ZENG Tian-zhi, as one of the disciples of Mr. CHENG Dan-an, is considered as one of the major successors of the Chengjiang acupuncture school in the South of the Five Ridges. By collecting Mr. ZENG's works and papers as well as the interviews with his followers, his life and achievements are verified and his existing representative works are introduced. It is found out that following CHENG Dan-an's steps, ZENG Tian-zhi has practiced the medicine and performed great deeds, established schools and taught students. Also he established the first educational institution of acupuncture in Hong Kong, namely College of Scientific Acupuncture. He has traveled to many places to promote the acupuncture and cultivate a large number of acupuncturists. His works are characterized by organized edition, bringing in modern medical theory and focusing on clinic applicability.
Acupuncture ; education ; history ; methods ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Books ; China ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Yinian Jiangya (YNJY) Decoction contained serum on cell proliferation of primary cultured endothelial cells of spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) mRNA expression in the cells.

METHODSSD rats were fed with high-lipid diet and different doses (high, medium and low, containing crude drug of 5.2 g/mL, 2.6 g/mL, 1.3 g/mL respectively) of YNJY respectively and the serum contained different doses of YNJY (S-YNJY) was prepared by collecting the rats' serum after 20 days of feeding. The serum obtained from SD rats fed with normal diet, i.e. drug free serum (S-free) was taken for control. Primary cultured endothelial cells of SHR were treated respectively with S-YNJY in different doses (treated groups) and S-free (control group), the cell activity and the mRNA expression of PPAR-gamma in cells of all groups were detected by MTT and RT-PCR respectively at different time points: 2, 4, 8, 16 and 24 h after treatment.

RESULTSMTT test showed that at time points of 4 and 8 h, the OD value raised in the treated groups with insignificant difference among them (P>0.05), but was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05); at 16 h, it increased but showed a smaller increment in the medium-dose treated group (P<0.05); at 24 h, it decreased in all groups, but the decrement in the high- and medium-dose treated groups was more remarkable (P<0.05); at 48 h, it decreased continuously, with the decrement more significant in the high-dose group than in the control group (P<0.05). RT-PCR detection showed that at 4 h, the expression of PPAR-gamma mRNA was not changed significantly in all groups (P>0.05); at 8 h, it was remarkably lower in high-dose group than in others (P<0.05); at 16 h, it was higher in the three treated groups than in the control group (P<0.05), with a highest level shown in the high-dose treated group (P<0.01); at 24 h, the expression decreased in all groups, but the level in the low-dose treated group was still higher than that in the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSYNJY Decoction shows a two-way regulation on endothelial cells proliferation, and which is negatively dose-dependent in the late stage. The regulation is perhaps relevant to the regulating of the PPAR-gamma mRNA expressions. The PPAR-gamma mRNA expression up-regulating and maintaining effects of YNJY Decoction may be one of the mechanisms for its vascular endothelial cell protection and blood pressure suppressing.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; PPAR gamma ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serum

BACKGROUNDRetinocytoma (RB) is a very common intraocular malignant tumor during infancy. Chemotherapy has gradually been used as the first-line treatment for intraocular RB in recent years. In this study, Livin and PTEN expressions were observed in the RB tissue, along with the growth-inhibiting and apoptosis-induced effects of topotecan (TPT) on RB HXO-Rb44 cell strain. This study aimed to investigate the antigrowth effects of TPT on RB cell strain HXO-Rb44.

METHODSMax-Vision(TM) rapid immunohistochemistry was adopted to detect Livin and PTEN expressions in the normal retina and in RB, and their relationship with RB clinicopathologic features was analyzed. Human RB cell strain HXO-Rb44 was cultivated and passaged. MTT method was used to measure the survival rates of HXO-Rb44 cell strains under various TPT concentrations. IC50 values were calculated. Flow cytometry was used to detect the effects of various TPT concentrations on HXO-Rb44 cell apoptosis. Western blotting was used to detect the differences of Livin and PTEN protein expressions during cell apoptosis.

RESULTSThe positive expressions of Livin and PTEN in the RB group were obviously different from those in the normal control group. In RB tissue, Livin expression was relevant to PTEN expression. TPT could significantly induce the occurrence of cell apoptosis and had a dependent relationship with drug concentration. Livin and PTEN expression levels varied with the extension of the effect time of TPT based on Western blotting analysis.

CONCLUSIONSLivin and PTEN have high and low expression levels in the RB tissue, respectively. Both of them have key roles in RB occurrence and development. TPT could induce human RB cell strain HXO-Rb44 cell apoptosis, and its mechanism is associated with the inhibition of Livin and PTEN expressions.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; analysis ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; analysis ; Male ; Neoplasm Proteins ; analysis ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase ; analysis ; Retinal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Retinoblastoma ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Topoisomerase I Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Topotecan ; pharmacology

The digital music editor software "Cool Edit Pro 2.0" is used to design a virtual hearing testing system. This system has following advantages. First, its signal frequency can be set at will. Second, its dynamic range of signal intensity can reach up to 80dB. Third, the measuring accuracy of decibel value may reach 0.1dB. Forth, the system can be used in single and dual channel measurements. Last but not least, it can carry on data processing and drawing along with the same computer.
Audiometry ; instrumentation ; Computers ; Hearing Tests ; instrumentation ; Music ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Software ; User-Computer Interface

BackgroundAn ideal animal model is very important for the investigation of the immune mechanism of high-risk rejection corneal transplantation.ObjectiveThis study was to compare three methods of creating a high-risk corneal transplantation model in rabbits to study high-risk rejection corneal transplantation.MethodsForty-five New Zealand white rabbits were utilized and assigned randomly to three groups of different modeling methods,with 15 rabbits for each group.The high-risk corneal transplantation models were created by suturing with 5-0 silk thread in 4 quadrants,inducing alkali burn with 1 mol/L NaOH or corneal xenotransplantation.In the suturing group and alkali burning group,the rabbits received a unilateral 7.25 mm diameter corneal allograft after corneal neovascularization was induced,and in the xenotransplantation group,corneas from cats were used as donors.Rabbits were followed-up for 4 weeks in all groups.Corneal neovascular area was calculated and compared among the three groups.The amount of rejection,inflammatory index ( IF),neovascularization and histology of grafts were clinically scored to calculate the reject index (RI).ResultsThere were 14,15 and 15 rabbits that survived the high-risk penetrating corneal transplantation,respectively,in the suturing group,alkali burning group and xenotransplantation group.Two weeks after operation,the IF scores were 0.543 ± 0.103,0.811 ± 0.054 and 0.191 ±0.087,and the RI were 2.111±0.928,7.0±0.816 and 3.182±0.751 in the suturing group,alkali burning group and xenotransplantationgroup,respectively,showingstatisticallysignificantdifferencesamongthethreegroups (x2 =25.736,22.432,P =0.000).The IF value was lower in the xenotransplantation group compared with the suturing group and alkali burning group (Z =3.841,3.993,P =0.000),and that of the suturing group was lower than the alkali burning group (Z =3.568,P =0.000).The RI value of the xenotransplantation group was significantly raised in comparison with the suturing group and declined in comparison with the alkali burning group (Z =2.373,P =0.018;Z =3.936,P =0.000),and that of the suturing group was lower than the alkali burning group (Z =3.729,P =0.000 ).The survival times of the grafts were ( 17.9±2.0 ) days,( 13.4 ±2.4) days and ( 15.5 ±2.0 ) days in these three groups with a significant difference among them ( F =9.474,P =0.001 ).The neovascularization area in the xenotransplantation group was smaller than the suturing group and alkali burning group (P＜ 0.05 ).Histological examination revealed a large number of inflammatory cells infiltration in the grafts 2 and 4 weeks after transplantation in the suturing group and alkali burning group,but less inflammatory cells were seen in the xenotransplantaion group.Immunofluorescence staining showed abundant CD4+ T positive cells in the grafts in the three groups.Conclusions The cat-rabbit corneal xenotransplantation can induce stable and moderate immune rejection.This animal model has milder inflammatory response and less corneal neovascularization than the suture and alkali burn models.This method therefore is an ideal model for high-risk corneal transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of needle-knife at cervical spine area as adjunctive therapy on dry eye syndrome. METHODS: A total of 84 patients with dry eye syndrome were randomized into 3 groups, named group A, group B and group C, 28 cases in each one (1 case dropped off in the group A, 2 cases dropped off in both group B and C). In the group A, needle-knife was applied at the margo inferior of external occipital protuberance, the range of 4 cm bilateral to external occipital protuberance, the spinous process of C, the range of 3 cm bilateral to 2 cm above C spinous process, the range of 2 cm bilateral to C, C, C spinous process for once a week; acupuncture was applied at Jingming (BL 1), Cuanzhu (BL 2), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taixi (KI 3), Yanglao (SI 6), Ganshu (BL 18), Shenshu (BL 23), etc. for once a day, 6 times a week; sodium hyaluronate eye drop was given one drop once, 5-6 times a day. Treatment of acupuncture and sodium hyaluronate eye drop was given in the group B, sodium hyaluronate eye drop was given in the group C, the acupoints selection and the manipulation of acupuncture, the dosage of sodium hyaluronate eye drop were the same as the group A. One week was as one course and 3 courses were required in the 3 groups. SchirmerⅠtest (SⅠT), break-up time (BUT), scores of corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) and eye symptom before and after treatment were observed, the clinical effect was evaluated in the 3 groups. RESULTS: SⅠT was increased, BUT was prolonged, scores of CFS and eye symptom were reduced after treatment in the group A and group B (<0.01); scores of CFS and eye symptom were reduced after treatment in the group C (<0.01). The variations of SⅠT, BUT and the scores of CFS and eye symptom in the group A were greater than those in the group B and the group C (<0.01); the variations of above indexes in the group B were greater than those in the group C (<0.05, <0.01). The total effective rate was 94.4% (51/54) in the group A, which was superior to 78.8% (41/52) in the group B and 48.1% (25/52) in the group C (<0.01), and the total effective rate in the group B was superior to the group C (<0.01). CONCLUSION Needle-knife at cervical spine area as adjunctive therapy can relieve the clinical symptoms and improve the function of lacrimal gland in patients with dry eye syndrome.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Dry Eye Syndromes ; therapy ; Humans ; Needles

OBJECTIVETo identify the risk factors of esophagojejunal anastomotic leakage (EJAL) and its impact on prognosis of gastric cancer patients after curative total gastrectomy.

METHODSClinical and follow-up data of 1254 gastric cancer patients who underwent radical total gastrectomy at the Department of Digestive Surgery, Xijing Hospital, from January 2012 to May 2015 were retrospectively collected. Risk factors of EJAL and prognostic factors of patients were analyzed respectively. In order to reduce the influences of other prognostic factors on survival, patients with and without EJAL were selected using Gmatch methods based on the results of prognostic factor analysis. Survival of those with or without EJAL was examined before and after match respectively.

RESULTSEJAL occurred in 31 of 1 254 patients(2.5%). The leakage was diagnosed at a median of 6 (range, 4-12) days after surgery. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that preoperative low serum albumin(<35 g/L)(P=0.018), pulmonary insufficiency(P=0.006), long duration of operation(≥240 min)(P=0.001) were independent risk factors of EJAL. All the patients were followed up for 3-40(median 18) months. Multivariate analysis showed that age(≥65, P=0.000), intraoperative blood transfusion (P=0.016), EJAL (P=0.000), tumor location (distal, P=0.020; total, P=0.001), depth of invasion (T4, P=0.005) and lymph node metastasis (N2, P=0.002, N3, P=0.000) were prognostic predictors. Twenty-six patients with EJAL were successfully matched to 104 patients without EJAL in a ratio of 1/4 ratio. Patients with EJAL had a significantly worse overall 3-year survival rate than those without (44.3% vs. 66.7%, P=0.002).

CONCLUSIONSEJAL after curative total gastrectomy leads to worse survival. Patients with preoperative low serum albumin, pulmonary insufficiency and long duration of operation should be taken care of during perioperative period to prevent the occurrence of EJAL.

Aged ; Anastomotic Leak ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo investigate the safety and efficacy of fast track surgery (FTS) management in gastric cancer undergoing D2 gastrectomy.

METHODSEighty gastric cancer patients undergoing D2 gastrectomy were recruited prospectively. Patients were assigned to receive FTS management (n = 40) or conventional perioperative care (n = 40). The FTS care included shorten preoperative fasting time, no nasogastric decompressing tubes and abdominal drainage placed, early postoperative oral feeding, multimodal analgesia, and early mobilisation. The length of postoperative hospital stay, medical cost, nutritional status, gut function, and postoperative complications in the two groups were recorded and compared.

RESULTSFTS group was associated with a significantly shorter postoperative hospital stay compared with conventional care group [(5.6 +/- 1.3) d vs. (9.4 +/- 1.9) d, P < 0.05]. Medical cost was less [(18 620 +/- 2360) Yuan vs. (20 370 +/- 2440) Yuan, P < 0.05] and duration of intravenous infusion [(3.5 +/- 1.4) d vs. (5.8 +/- 1.9) d, P < 0.05] was also shorter. First passage of flatus was earlier in FTS group than in conventional care group [(4.3 +/- 0.4) d vs. (5.5 +/- 0.9) d, P < 0.05]. Loss of body weight in the postoperative period was less in FTS group [(3.2 +/- 0.8) kg vs. (4.3 +/- 1.6) kg, P < 0.05]. There was no difference in morbidity or mortality between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONFTS in D2 gastrectomy is safe and efficient, and it can shorten postoperative hospital stay and hasten return of gut function.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Perioperative Care ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Prospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDEarly detection and diagnosis is urgent for the sake of effective treatment strategy for lung cancer. However, a convenient, economical and relatively precise method is not available. We here report a prospective study to find the possible value of the combined use of four popular tumor markers in the early diagnosis of lung cancer among patients with suspicious nodules in the lung.

METHODSSix hundred and sixty inpatients with suspicious nodules in the lung were divided into a lung cancer group and a benign pulmonary tumor group according to post-operative histological examinations. Serum levels of four tumor markers including squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), Cyfra 21-1 and neuron specific enolase (NSE) were assayed for each patient. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed for each tumor marker. The power of lung cancer diagnosis of each tumor marker, as well as a combination of them were analyzed and compared.

RESULTSThe serum levels (median, range) of SCC, CEA, Cyfra 21-1 and NSE were 0.44 (0.01 - 35.70) ng/ml, 2.49 (0.30 - 26.78) ng/ml, 2.30 (0.82 - 73.33) ng/ml and 10.54 (0.10 - 56.41) ng/ml respectively in lung cancer group, and were 0.32 (0.01 - 0.90) ng/ml, 1.60 (0.20 - 8.93) ng/ml, 1.41 (0.72 - 4.82) ng/ml and 9.36 (6.56 - 24.24) ng/ml respectively in the benign pulmonary tumor group. The difference in each tumor marker between the two groups was significant (P < 0.05). The ROCs of SCC, CEA, Cyfra 21-1 and NSE were 0.702 (95%CI, 0.654 - 0.751), 0.611 (95%CI, 0.563 - 0.659), 0.650 (95%CI, 0.601 - 0.700) and 0.598 (95%CI, 0.542 - 0.654) respectively, indicating very low power of these four tumor markers. When a combination of SCC, CEA, Cyfra 21-1 and NSE were employed, the diagnosis power was strengthened.

CONCLUSIONSCC, CEA, Cyfra 21-1 and NSE are valuable in the early diagnosis of lung cancer among suspicious nodules in the lung, especially when they were assayed together for one patient.

Aged ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; blood ; metabolism ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; metabolism ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; blood ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Keratin-19 ; blood ; metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms ; blood ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; blood ; metabolism ; Serpins ; blood ; metabolism

Objective To observe the feasibility of cardiac MR tissue tracking(CMR-TT)technique for quantitatively evaluating myocardial strain of patients with myocardial amyloidosis(CA).Methods Cardiac MRI were collected from 20 patients of immunoglobulin amyloid light-chain CA(AL-CA,group A),20 cases of transthyretin CA(ATTR-CA,group B)and 20 healthy subjects(group C),and myocardial strain parameters were obtained using CMR-TT technique.Left ventricular cardiac function parameters were compared among 3 groups,so were strain parameters of each myocardial segment of left ventricle and global myocardium,including 3D longitudinal strain(LS),3D radial strain(RS)and 3D circumferential strain(CS).Results Compared with those in group C,significant differences of left ventricular cardiac function parameters were found in both group A and B(all P＜0.01),while no statistical difference was found between group A and B(all P＞0.05).Except for apical segment RS(P=0.81),strain parameters in group A and B were both lower than those in group C(all P＜0.01),while no significant difference was detected between group A and B(all P＞0.05).Conclusion CMR-TT technique could be used to quantitatively evaluate left ventricular myocardial strain of CA patients.