OBJECTIVETo explore the analgesic mechanism of small knife needle for treating transverse process syndrome of the third vertebra (TPSTV) by observing peripheral and central changesof β-endorphin (β-EP) and enkephalin (ENK) contents.

METHODSTotally 30 Japanese white big-ear rabbits of clean grade were divided into 5 groups according to random digit table, i.e., the normal control group, the model group, the small knife needle group, the electroacupunture (EA) group, and the small knife needle plus EA group, 6 in each group. The TPSTV model was established by inserting a piece of gelatin sponge into the left transverse process of 3rd lumbar vertebrae. Rabbits in the small knife needlegroup were intervened by small knife needle. Those in the EA group were intervened by EA at bilateralWeizhong (BL40). Those in the small knife needle plus EA group were intervened by small knife needleand EA at bilateral Weizhong (BL40). Contents of β-EP and ENK in plasma, muscle, spinal cord, and hypothalamus were determined after sample collection at day 28 after modeling.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, contents of β-EP and ENK in plasma and muscle increased significantly, and contents of β-EP and ENK in spinal cord and hypothalamus decreased significantly in the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Contents of β-EP and ENK approximated normal levels in the three treatment groups after respective treatment. Compared with the model group, the content of β-EP in muscle decreased, and contents of β-EP and ENK in hypothalamus increased in the three treatment groups after respective treatment (P < 0.05). There were no significant difference among the three treatment groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSmall knife needle treatment and EA had benign regulation on peripheral and central β-EP and ENK in TPSTV rabbits. Small knife needle treatment showed better effect than that of EA.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Enkephalins ; metabolism ; Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; pathology ; Muscle, Skeletal ; metabolism ; Needles ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Spinal Cord ; metabolism ; Spinal Diseases ; therapy ; beta-Endorphin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the evolution pattern of human influenza virus A H3 subtype by detecting positive selected codons in hemagglutinin gene.

METHODSAll H3 sequences in NCBI GenBank and influenza sequence database were downloaded and two step cluster method was applied to divide sequences into six groups, which were corresponding to different period by turns. Fixed Effect Model was applied to detect positive selected codons in each group, and two step cluster method was then used again to summarize variation patterns of selective pressure among sites.

RESULTSPositive selected codons were different in groups corresponding different periods. 50 amino acid codons had been identified as positive selected sites in at least one time span. Among them, 42 codons belonged to one of the five known antigen-combinng regions. A larger amount of sites as well as relatively higher selection pressure were identified in antibody combining regions A and B. Results showed that the 50 sites could be divided into seven different patterns. While other six patterns corresponding to positive selected codons at only one time span, the sites of the seventh pattern were under positive selection in several periods.

CONCLUSIONPositive selection codons in evolution of H3A1 strains were alternated in different time period whereas antibody combining regions A and B played more important roles in the evolution process. Other 8 identified codons out of the antibody combining regions might belong to unknown antigen regions.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Codon ; Hemagglutinins ; genetics ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype ; genetics ; Influenza, Human ; genetics ; Selection, Genetic

BACKGROUNDAlthough the first leading cause of death in China was malignant neoplasms (mortality, 374.1 per 100,000 person-years), the full impact of primary brain tumors (PBT) on the healthcare system is not completely described because there are a few well documented reports about the epidemiologic features of brain tumors. This study aimed to report a comprehensive assessment on the prevalence of PBT.

METHODSA multicenter cross-sectional study on brain tumor (MCSBT) in China was initiated in five regional centers: Daqing (northeast), Puyang (north of China), Shiyan (center of China), Ma'anshan (center of China) and Shanghai (southeast). Prevalence rate was calculated by counting the number of people living with a PBT between October 1, 2005 and September 30, 2006 and dividing by the total population of the five communities at January 1, 2006. Estimates of prevalence were expressed as percentages and grouped according to gender and to age in fifteen-year categories. Within these strata, the rates were estimated with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using the accurate calculation of CI for Poisson distribution. A chi-square test was used to compare the various frequencies with α < 0.05. Age-standardized prevalence with the direct method was calculated with the ten-year age-specific prevalence and the age distribution of the Chinese population in 2010, obtained from World population prospects: the 2008 revision.

RESULTSWe estimated that the overall prevalence of PBT was 24.56 per 100,000 (95%CI, 14.85 to 34.27), and the overall prevalence of PBT in female population (30.57 per 100,000 and its 95%CI ranged from 19.73 to 41.41) was higher than that in male population (18.84 per 100,000 and its 95%CI ranged from 10.33 to 27.35). However, the discrepancy between genders was not statistically significant because the 95%CI overlapped. Of 272 cases of newly diagnosed PBT, the proportion of histological subtypes by age groups, gender was statistically different (χ(2) = 52.6510, P < 0.0001). More than half of all reported tumors (52.57%) were either gliomas or meningiomas. For the youngest (aged from 0 - 19) strata of the population, glioma appeared to occur more than other subtypes, accounting for 55.56% of all of cases. The majority of brain tumors presented in those aged from 20 to 59 years was pituitary adenomas (45.12%) and gliomas (31.10%). Opposed to brain tumors in adults and teenage, gliomas only accounted for 22.22%. Meanwhile, the median ages at diagnosis of the patients with PBT were similar between males and females except for pituitary adenomas (male: 59 years old; female: 45 years old).

CONCLUSIONSAge standardized prevalence of PBT is 22.52 per 100,000 (95%CI, 13.22 to 31.82) for all populations, 17.64 per 100,000 (95%CI, 9.41 to 25.87) for men, and 27.94 per 100,000 (95%CI, 17.58 to 38.30) for women. Age standardization to China's 2010 population yielded an estimated population of 304 954 cases with PBT. Our prevalence estimates provide a conservative basis on which to plan health care services and to develop programmatic strategies for surviving. In the future, it would be helpful to have long-term observed survival rates that would make the assumptions and the resulting imprecision in the current estimates unnecessary.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the brain injury mechanism and enrich the database of human finite element (FE) biomechanical model by developing the FE model of one-year-old toddler head. Methods Based on CT data from Chinese one-year-old toddler head with substantial and detailed information, the head model with detailed anatomical structure was constructed by using the medical software Mimics to get the head geometry data, as well as the reverse engineering software to divide NURBS surface and build the geometric model. Finally, the FE pre-processing software was used mesh the model. The FE model of one-year-old toddle head was validated by data from anatomic and cadaver experiments, and was used for preliminary analysis on damage mechanism of one-year-old toddler head. Results The FE model of Chinese one-year-old male toddler head was developed, which included and distinguished the gray matter and white matter of brain and cerebellum, hippocampus, fontanel, sagittal suture, coronal suture, brainstem and ventricles. The cadaver head static compression experiments and drop experiments were reconstructed by using this head model, and the results showed that the FE model of head had similar mechanical properties with the cadaver, which proved the validity of the FE model. Simulation results showed that skull stiffness and skull injury severity varied with different compression rates. Conclusions The FE model of one-year-old toddler head with detailed anatomical structures is of great biofidelity. The FE head model can be used to further investigate the detailed injury mechanism of deep brain tissues, especially for the closed craniocerebral injury, which provides an effective way and tool for the related research and clinical application.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic mutation mechanism of a rare Rhesus D variant individual. METHODS: Regular serological assay was used for determination of Rh type for the sample. Indirect anti-human globulin test (IAT) was used to confirm the RhD antigen and screen the antibodies. D-screen reagent was used to analyze the RhD epitopes of the sample. RHD genotype and RHD zygosity testing of the sample were detected by palymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP). The full length coding region of RHD gene was sequenced. RHD mRNA was detected using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The PCR products were cloned and sequenced. RESULTS: The RhD blood group of the sample was determined as weak D, and the Rh phenotype was CcDEe. The antibody screening was negative. The sample tested with all monoclonal anti-Ds in D-screen showed the D epitope profiles as partial D types. The analysis of RHD gene sequence indicated that the individual with RHD c.845G/A and RHD c.1227G/A base heterozygosis. Three kinds of alternative splicing isoforms were obtained by TA cloning and sequencing. CONCLUSION The object has RHD c.845G/A and RHD c.1227G/A mutation. This heterozygous mutation is responsible for the low expression of RhD antigen on the red blood cells of the sample.
Alleles ; Blood Group Antigens ; Genotype ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rh-Hr Blood-Group System/genetics* ; Humans

Objective To investigate the relationship between the levels of plasma adrenaline and norepinephrine and gene polymorphism of β1 adrenergic receptor G1165C in children with enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection in hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD). Methods The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the expression of gene polymorphism of β1 adrenergic receptor G1165C in vitro. The levels of plasma adrenaline and norepinephrine were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results The plasma norepinephrine level of severe group was significantly higher than the mild group in children with EV71 infection in HFMD (P < 0.05); however, the levels of plasma adrenaline in two groups had no statistical differences (P > 0.05); There was no significant difference in the distribution of β1 adrenergic receptor G1165C genotype and allele between EV71 infection group and healthy control group (P > 0.05). Further analysis of EV71 infection group by dividing it into mild and severe groups showed that there was no significant difference in the distribution of genotype and allele between these two groups as well (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine in different genotypes of EV71 infection group (P > 0.05), and in the levels of plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine in the mild and severe groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions As the disease gets worse, the plasma norepinephrine level has a rising trend in children with EV71 infection in HFMD, which is an important indicator to evaluate the progress of the disease. However, the gene polymorphism of β1 adrenergic receptor G1165C have no significant correlation, not only with the susceptibility and severity of EV71 infection in hand, foot and mouth disease, but also with the levels of catecholamine.

Tibetan medicine is an essential part of Chinese medicine and has unique theoretical experience and therapeutic advantages. According to the development principle of inheriting the essence, sticking to the truth, and keeping innovative, the supervision department should give clear and reasonable guidance considering the characteristics of Tibetan medicine, establish a standard system for quality control, clinical verification and evaluation, and accelerate the research and commercialization of new drugs. In view of the needs of drug supply-side reform and the current situation of Tibetan medicine and new pharmaceutical research, we ponder and provide suggestions on the confusion faced by the current supervision of Tibetan drug registration, hoping to contribute to the supervision strategy of Tibetan drug registration and the high-quality development of Tibetan medicine industry.
Tibet ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; Quality Control ; Pharmaceutical Research ; Drug Industry

To investigate the protective effect and the potential mechanism of leonurine(Leo) against erastin-induced ferroptosis in human renal tubular epithelial cells(HK-2 cells), an in vitro erastin-induced ferroptosis model was constructed to detect the cell viability as well as the expressions of ferroptosis-related indexes and signaling pathway-related proteins. HK-2 cells were cultured in vitro, and the effects of Leo on the viability of HK-2 cells at 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 μmol·L~(-1) were examined by CCK-8 assay to determine the safe dose range of Leo administration. A ferroptosis cell model was induced by erastin, a common ferroptosis inducer, and the appropriate concentrations were screened. CCK-8 assay was used to detect the effects of Leo(20, 40, 80 μmol·L~(-1)) and positive drug ferrostatin-1(Fer-1, 1, 2 μmol·L~(-1)) on the viability of ferroptosis model cells, and the changes of cell morphology were observed by phase contrast microscopy. Then, the optimal concentration of Leo was obtained by Western blot for nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2) activation, and transmission electron microscope was further used to detect the characteristic microscopic morphological changes during ferroptosis. Flow cytometry was performed to detect reactive oxygen species(ROS), and the level of glutathione(GSH) was measured using a GSH assay kit. The expressions of glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4), p62, and heme oxygenase 1(HO-1) in each group were quantified by Western blot. RESULTS:: showed that Leo had no side effects on the viability of normal HK-2 cells in the concentration range of 10-100 μmol·L~(-1). The viability of HK-2 cells decreased as the concentration of erastin increased, and 5 μmol·L~(-1) erastin significantly induced ferroptosis in the cells. Compared with the model group, Leo dose-dependently increased cell via-bility and improved cell morphology, and 80 μmol·L~(-1) Leo promoted the translocation of Nrf2 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Further studies revealed that Leo remarkably alleviated the characteristic microstructural damage of ferroptosis cells caused by erastin, inhibited the release of intracellular ROS, elevated GSH and GPX4, promoted the nuclear translocation of Nrf2, and significantly upregulated the expression of p62 and HO-1 proteins. In conclusion, Leo exerted a protective effect on erastin-induced ferroptosis in HK-2 cells, which might be associated with its anti-oxidative stress by activating p62/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.
Humans ; Ferroptosis ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism* ; Sincalide/pharmacology* ; Signal Transduction ; Epithelial Cells/metabolism* ; Glutathione