Objective To investigate the activity and mRNA expression of DNA methyltransferase(DNMT) in gliomas and the effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy on them. Methods A total of 30 cases of glioma were divided in four groups: operation group, treatment groups A(operation+chemotherapy), B(operation+radiotherapy) and C(operation+radiotherapy +chemotherapy). Group A was treated with VM 26 and Semustine MeCCNU, B with continuous external radiation with X ray accelerated by 10MV accelerator. Fresh tissues removed surgically were used for the detection of the DNMT activity of tumors by 3H labeled tracing microassay and DNMT mRNA expression by RT PCR. Results The 2 year survival rate of the patients treated by chemotherapy or /and radiotherapy increased significantly, but the activity and the mRNA expression of DNMT decreased significantly. Conclusion DNMT is involved in the genesis and development of gliomas. The curative effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy may be related with DNMT activity and expression. Detection of DNMT activity and DNMT mRNA may play an important role in the prognosis of gliomas and choice of treatment regimens.

Objective That decline of estradiol in serum of postmenopausal women can result in dry eye has been accepted at present. However, the change of estradiol in tear of postmenopausal women has been not reported ever. This study was to discuss the relationship between dry eye syndrome and estradiol in tears and serum of postmenopausal women. Methods Total 62 eyes of 62 women were collected in this trial. The aim of this trial was informed orally and the informed consent was obtained from all the subjects. The 32 right eyes were from menopausal women for more one year and 30 right eyes were from premenopause women. The dry eye was diagnosed based on the abnormalities of tear break-up time (BUT), Schirmer I test, corneal fluorescence and subjective symptom of patients. The periphery blood specimen was collected from all the subjects, and tear specimen was obtained and quantified using filter paper. Estradiol contents in tears and serum were determined by chemiluminescence method. The bulbar conjunctiva was obtained by impression cytology, and the microstructure of conjunctiva was observed under the scanning electron microscopy. Results In comparison to the premenopause group, the content of estradiol in tears and serum in menopause group was significantly reduced(73. 50 ±24.47 vs 17. 43 ± 10. 92) (U = -6. 396, P =0. 001). In the premenopause group, the estradiol content between tear and serum showed the positive correlation (r = 0. 838, P = 0. 001) . However, no statistical correlation was found in estradiol content between tears and serum in menopause group(r =0. 127, P = 0. 487). The maicrostructure changes were seen in the dry eyes of postmenopausal women, and decrease of goblet cell and loosen of intercellular junction were found under the electron microscope. Conclusion The content of estradiol in tears in menopause group is significantly lower than that in the premenopause group. Estradiol content in tears and serum of the postmenopausal women showes insignificant correlation. This result indicates that the topical substitute therapy with estradiol is possible in dry eye.

Fine particles,less than 2.5 micrometer in diameter (PM2.5),are the main components of inhalable particles.Because of their relatively small size and large surface area,PM2.5 can absorb and retain chemicals,bacteria,viruses and other toxic substances,penetrate deeply into the respiratory tract and easily reach the alveolar ducts,exerting adverse effects on the lungs.PM2.5 can also be absorbed into the bloodstream through alveolar capillaries,causing serious damage to human health.The biological effects produced by PM2.5 are frequently attributed to the oxidative stress induced by intracellular reactive oxygen species alterations and abnormal release of inflammatory mediators closely involved in the development of lung diseases.This review discusses the research advances in relationships between PM2.5 exposure and inflammatory responses and oxidative stress based on experimental researches,in vivo and in vitro studies.Recent epidemiologic investigations have shown associations between increased incidence of respiratory diseases and lung cancer from exposure to low levels of various forms of respirable fibers and particulate matter.In vivo experiments have disclosed the association between PM2.5 exposure and the exacerbation of asthma,bronchitis,chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,and other lung damages.Cell damage mechanisms mainly include alterations of cell signaling pathways,DNA damage,immune injury,autophagy and apoptosis.

Objective The objective of this paper is to statistically analyze what influence can the utilization of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) have on healthcare expenses of inpatients, and to investigate whether TCM has an advantage of reducing healthcare expenses among certain diseases.Method: Inpatient medical records from 13 public general hospitals in Ningxia Hui autonomous region were collected to set up a database.A multiple linear regression models was established and used to analyze the impact of using TCM on hospitalization expenses.Results: The findings have shown that inpatients who apply TCM have significantly higher hospitalization expenses, with an estimated average of ?8 276.24, while those who do not apply TCM in their treatment spend ?7 254.59 on average (P=0.000).When the proportion of TCM expense higher than 10% of total drug expense, inpatients who apply the TCM have lower hospitalization expenses.In addition, hospitalization expenses decrease with the increase of TCM proportion.Among the diseases of the ear and mastoid disease, diseases of the circulatory system, and certain conditions originating in the perinatal period, inpatients who apply TCM have significant lower hospitalization expense (P=0.000).Hospitalization expense of inpatients who do not apply TCM is twice as much as that of those who apply TCM in the treatment of among diseases of the circulatory system, which has the largest TCM proportion.Conclusion: Only when applying TCM as main therapy can provide price advantage of TCM in the circulatory system caused by chronic diseases, and other advantages of treatment.

Objective To study the feasibility of cerebral state index(CSI)modulating the depth of general anesthesia in the elderly with laryngeal mask anesthesia.Methods Tmenty-four ASA physical status of Ⅱ-Ⅲ patients undergoing selective lower abdominal surgery were divided two groups with 12 cases.The anesthesia was induced by sufentanil、 propofuland maintained with TCI propofol.The depth of anesthesia was modulated by CSI index in group I or by hemodynamics in group Ⅱ.HR、SBP、DBP、MAP and CSI were recorded.The time of awakening form anesthesia(the time when OAA/S reached 4 score after the drawal of propofol)and the dosage of propofol and fentanyl were recored.Results The time of awakening from anesthesia was 16?5min in group Ⅱ,which was significantly longer than that in group I(P

The heel vessel belongs to the eight extra meridians in human meridian system, which is closely related to the human motion function. Balance function plays an essential role in successful completion of activities in daily life, so the physiological function and pathology of heel vessel as well as human balance function are analyzed, and from the aspect of running course of heel vessel and syndrome, the correlation between heel vessel and human balance function is explored, and the application status of acupoints related to heel vessel for balance dysfunction is introduced. It is believed that heel vessel is closely related to human balance function, especially the motion regulation mechanisms of balance function, and it is hoped that new ideas and methods can be provided for acupuncture treatment for the balance function disorders.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Meridians ; Postural Balance

Objective To investigate the regulatory effect of CsA on the expression of NK cell inhibitory receptor ILT4 and cytotoxicity of NK cells.Methods NK cells treated with CsA ( 10 mg/L) or DMSO for 12,24 and 36 h were chosen as three experimental groups and control groups respectively.RTqPCR and flow cytometry were performed to detect the alteration of ILT4 at the mRNA and protein level respectively.The expression of HLA-G in human gastric cancer cell line BGC-823 and human placental choriocarcinoma cell line JEG-3 were measured at the same time,and then the cytolytic activity of the untreated NK cells and NK cells treated with CsA for 36 h against BGC-823 and JEG-3 cells was determined with MTT.One-way analysis of variance was employed to compare the different ILT4 expression at different time points after medication; Dunnett test was performed to carry out the pairwise comparison between each mean.The difference of HLA-G expression between JEG-3 cells and BGC-823 cells,and the difference of NK cell cytolytic activity against JEG-3 cells and BGC-823 cells were analyzed by student's t-test.Results RT-qPCR assay indicated that the relative levels of ILT4 mRNA in NK cells treated with CsA for 12,24 and 36 h in turn were 0.99 ± 0.27,1.79 ± 0.29,6.79 ± 0.64,and those of their contrast groups treated with DMSO were 0.86 ±0.11,0.94 ±0.12,1.06 ±0.17.The expression of ILT4 in NK cells treated with CsA for 24 h or 36 h was higher than that in NK cells of their contrast groups respectively ( t value of 4.69,14.99,P ＜0.05,respectively),but there was no significant difference between the two groups of NK cells treated for 12 h ( t =0.78,P ＞0.05 ).Through flow cytometry,the positive rates of ILT4 protein expression in NK cells treated with CsA for 12,24 and 36 h [(5.16 ± 0.42 ) ％,( 6.23 ± 0.48 ) ％,( 23.8 ± 1.5 ) ％]were higher than those in NK cells after treatment with DMSO for 12,24 and 36 h respectively[(3.08 ±0.19)％,(3.35 ±0.12)％,(3.36 ±0.21 )％ ;t value of 7.70,10.06,20.72,P＜0.01,respectively].The expression of ILT4 in NK cells treated for 36 h was much higher than that in NK cells for 12 and 24 h at the mRNA and protein level (t value of 16.38,14.12 ;21.81,20.56,P ＜ 0.01,respectively).Meanwhile the killing rates of NK cells treated with 10∶1 effector-target ratio CsA on BGC-823 cells (low HLA-G expression) were ( 8 1.96 ± 2.80 ) ％ ( before treatment) and ( 60.23 ± 1.57 ) ％ ( after treatment),which were higher than those on JEG-3 cells (HLA-G-overexpression) [(53.46 ±2.21 )％ ( before treatment),(28.30 ± 1.85 ) ％ ( after treatment)].The changes of cytotoxicity of NK cells treated with CsA against target cells showed that CsA inhibited the killing activity of NK cells to BGC-823 and JEG-3 cells (t value of 11.74,15.16,P＜0.01,respectively),and the inhibitory rates were (26.48 ±2.42)％ and (47.10 ±1.59 ) ％ respectively.CsA had a higher killing rate inhibition on JEG-3 than on BGC-823 ( t =12.31,P ＜0.01 ).Conclusion CsA induces upregulation of ILT4 in NK cells,and the cytotoxicity of NK cells to tumor cells can be affected by interaction of ILT4 and HLA-G.

Objective To observe the incidence rate of anaemia and analyze the nutritional situation in the elderly population.Methods From April to August 2010,a total of 2052 elderly persons from out-department of Tianjin First Center Hospital were divided into four age groups:65-69years group (n=528),70-74 years group (n=593),75-79 years group (n=423) and 80 years and over group (n= 508).The body mass index (BMI),haemoglobin (Hb),mean corpuscular volume (MCV),triglyceride (TG),creatinine (Cr),serum albumin (ALB) and ferritin (Fer) were tested and evaluated using K-W test.Results (1) Anaemia was found in 90 subjects (4.4 %),4.0% in men and 6.l% in women,9.5% in 80 years and over group.The subjects with Hb level less than 90g/L were all 80 years and over.(2)There were significant differences among the groups in BMI,TG,Cr,ALB,Hb,MCV and Fer levels (all P＜0.01).There were significant differences among four groups in Hb and ALB levels (P＜0.01 ),and partially differences in TG, Cr and MCV levels (P＜0.05).(3)The Hb level was significantly correlated with TG, ALB, Fer and MCV levels (r=0.115,0.211, 0.114 and 0.089, all P＜0.01 ) from Pearson analysis.Conclusions Anemia incidence in elderly population is increased along with aging and is higher in women than in men, especially higher in 80 years and over group.Nutritional situation gets worse with aging.

Objective To evaluate the consistency of hemoglobin (Hb) as an diagnostic index for iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in pregnant women with serum ferritin (SF) and free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP).Methods Hb,SF and FEP were assayed for 506 pregnant women with various gestational weeks for the diagnosis of IDA with Hb

Objective To explore the imaging findings of branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (BD-IPMNs). Methods A total of 45 BD-IPMNs were confirmed by pathology after surgery.The clinical data and imaging findings were retrospec-tively reviewed.Image analysis included characteristics and the nature of the lesions.Finally,an ROC curve was performed to evaluate the differential diagnostic efficacy between benign and malignant lesions using the imaging findings.Results There were statistically significant differences for differential diagnosis of malignant and benign BD-IPMNs in the maximum diameter of the lesions and the MPD,walls,wall nodules,shape,and the atrophy of pancreatic parenchyma (P < 0.05 ).The diagnostic sensitivity,specificity, AUC and Kappa value of benign and malignant BD-IPMNs were 94.3%,90%,92.1% and 0.81 (P =0.000 1)respectively.Conclu-sion The imaging technology is valuable in diagnosing and differentiating malignant from benign BD-IPMNs.