Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Female ; Humans ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Yangjing Zhongyu Decoction (YZD) on mRNA and protein expression of PCNA, StAR, and FSHR in ovarian granulose cells (GCs) cultured by excess androgen.

METHODSOvarian GCs from porcine follicles were isolated and cultured in vitro. Follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) or YZD was added in the GCs treated by excess testosterone propionate. Totally 48 h later mRNA and protein expression of PCNA, StAR, and FSHR were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSExcess androgen inhibited mRNA and protein expression of PCNA, StAR, and FSHR of GCs. FSH and YZD could antagonize inhibition of excess androgens, and promote mRNA and protein expression of PCNA, StAR, and FSHR in GCs.

CONCLUSIONYZD could antagonize the inhibition of excess androgen on mRNA and protein expression of PCNA, StAR and FSHR in GCs. Thus, we inferred that YZD could improve the follicle dysplasia by promoting mRNA and protein expression of PCNA, StAR and FSHR in GCs.

Androgens ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; pharmacology ; Granulosa Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Ovarian Follicle ; cytology ; drug effects ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Receptors, FSH ; genetics ; metabolism ; Swine

Sodium calcium exchanger (NCX), which is widely expressed in the plasma membrane, mitochondrial membrane and secretory vesicles in diverse kinds of cells, belongs to a type of cation translocators. NCX works in two modes, the forward mode and reverse mode, to regulate the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration bi-directionally. In the forward mode, NCX carries Ca(2+) out of the cell against its electrochemical gradients coupled to the influx of Na(+) down its electrochemical gradients; alternatively, Ca(2+) enters through the reverse mode of NCX, and Na(+) is carried out of the cell. Exactly through the two-way modes, NCX can regulate intracellular Ca(2+) concentration fleetly and accurately, and plays a critical role in a series of physiological processes including intracellular signal transduction, growth and development of cells, excitation and its coupled functions of excitable cells. NCX are acknowledged to be involved in myofiber contraction, neurotransmission, migration and differentiation of neurogliocyte, activation of immune cells, secretion of cytokines and hormones etc. Moreover, abnormal activation of the reverse mode of NCX plays a vital role in many pathological processes including cell apoptosis, ischemia-reperfusion injury, insulin secretion, tumor etc. Here we reviewed the research status about the NCX's participation in some physiological and pathophysiological processes, so as to provide comprehensive understanding about its functions.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Calcium ; physiology ; Humans ; Ion Transport ; Reperfusion Injury ; physiopathology ; Signal Transduction ; Sodium ; physiology ; Sodium-Calcium Exchanger ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects on lumbar disc snake herniation between acupuncture in combination of snake moxibustion with simple acupuncture or snake moxibustion.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty cases of lumbar disc herniation patients were randomly divided into an acupuncture and snake moxibustion group (group A, 60 cases), a acupuncture control group (group B, 30 cases) and a snake moxibustion control group (group C, 30 cases). In group A, acupuncture was applied to Shenshu (BL 23), Dachangshu (BL 25) and tender points bilateral to the spine, once a day. Additionally, at the end of acupuncture on the 1st day of a week, snake moxibustion was applied for one time. In group B and group C, acupuncture or snake moxibustion was applied respectively.

RESULTSThe excellent rate was 95.0% (57/60) in group A, which was superior to that of 70.0% (21/30) in group B and 66.7% (20/30) in group C (both P < 0.05). JOA scores in each group after treatment increased apparently (all P < 0.01), of which, the scores in group A increased much more apparently as compared with those of the other two groups after treatment (both P < 0.01). The efficacy in group A was relevant obviously with the duration of sickness, the shorter the duration of sickness was, the higher the excellent rate would be. The age of patients in group A was relevant obviously with the efficacy, the younger patient was, the higher excellent rate would be.

CONCLUSIONThe efficiency on lumbar disc hernation treated with acupuncture and snake moxibustion is superior to that with either acupuncture or snake moxibustion.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective This study is to investigate the set-up accuracy of thermoplastic mask used for immobilization of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients being treated by Intensity Modulated Radia- tion Therapy (IMRT).Methods Nineteen patients with early stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (T1- T2N0M0),treated by fractionated intensity-modulated radiation therapy,underwent repeated CTs during their 6-week treatment course.We evaluated their anatomic landmark coordinates in a total of 85 repeated CT data sets and respective x,y and z shifts relative to their position in the 19 treatment-planning reference CTs.Results The translation in x,y,and z-axes with their mean value derived from both positive and negative set-up errors was-0.84 mm(x-axis),+0.65 mm(y-axis) and +0.01 mm(z-axis).Mean target isocenter translation was (0.89?0.69) mm,(0.82?0.79) mm,(0.95?1.24) mm in x,y and z-direc- tions,respectively.The mean total magnitude vector and 95% CI of isocenter motion were 1.87 mm and 4.65 mm.The data measured over the 6-week fractionated course of treatment revealed a slight deterioration of isocenter accuracy.The 95% CI,considered by us to be a valuable parameter for characterizing the sys- tem,of 4.17 mm for measurement within the first 3 weeks increased to 5.12 mm in the last 3 weeks of treat- ment.Conclusions The sequential CT scanning is a pronounced valuable method of evaluating the quality of departmental specific patient positioning procedures.The thermoplastic mask is eyed as well suited tool for immobilization and repositioning of NPC patients receiving intensity-modulated radiation therapy.

Objective The aim of the study was to investigate the epidemic situation,clinical symptom,diagnosis and epidemiological characteristics of human Fasciola gigantica infection in Dali,Yunnan province.It will also provide a scientific basis for fasciolosis control and prevention.Methods Epidemic data were collected and patient's clinical signs and symptoms were studied.Serum soluble antigen of Fasciola gigantica of patients and part of family members and health people in the same village was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the eggs of Fasciola gigantica in stool were observed under microscope.Sequencing and PCR amplification of Fasciola gigantica eggs had been done.Sequencing results were analyzed using basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) program of the U.S.National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and the similarity of the two in the sequence of nucleic acid was compared.Furthermore,patients were experimentally given orally therapeutic doses of Triclabendazole 10 mg·kg-1·d-1 daily for 2 days,and kept in the hospital for observation for one week.Moreover,host and vector were investigated in the surrounding ditches of Dali prefecture and Limnaea peregra snail samples were collected.All the snails were squashed by glass sheet in order to detect the cercarie.Cow dung and sheep manure was collected in the Limnaea peregra distribution environment,and the eggs in the feces were checked by microscope after washing and precipitation.Results All the 26 patients had a continued hyperpyrexia with distinct alimentary system symptoms of nausea,vomiting,stomachache,abdominal distension as well as hepatomegaly,sensitive to percussion,different levels of liver damage detected by CT.All the patients had an eaten history of raw Herba Houttuyniae and other aquatic plants,and the course of the disease was similar,with the same epidemiological characteristics.ELISA detection was used in the 26 patients,family members and other healthy population,the results of all the 26 patients were positive(100.0％,26/26) ; the positive rates of the 57 family members and other health people of the same village were 31.6％ (18/57) and 17.1％ (6/35),respectively.The results of sequencing and BLAST program showed that the pathogen was Fasciola gigantica with the similarity between 99％-100％.PCR amplification also confirmed that the eggs were Fasciola gigantica eggs with an approximately 1000 bp band on agarose gel.After treatment with Triclabendazole,body temperature of the patients dropped to normal and symptoms improved markedly.Moreover,329 Limnaea peregra snails were collected including 5 ones with redia and one-tailed cercariae which were preliminary identified as the larva of Fasciola gigantica.There were also eggs of Fasciola gigantica detected in one stool of cattle and one of goat.Conclusions Eating raw food is the leading cause of the onset of the disease.Triclabendazole is the drug of choice to treat Fasciolasis.Health education should be strengthened by government and disease prevention and control departments in order to make the local residents to understand the potential hazard of eating raw aquatic vegetable and drinking unboiled water,which is the key to prevent the occurrence of the disease.

BACKGROUNDIncreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, which in turn promotes cardiomyocytes apoptosis, is associated with the pathogenesis and progression of various cardiac diseases such as ischemia and heart failure. Recent studies have shown that over expression of heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27) confers resistance to cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, not much is known about the regulation of myocyte survival by Hsp27.

METHODSThe rat cardiac cell line H9c2, with a stable overexpression of Hsp27, was established, with empty vector transfected H9c2 cells as controls. Following the cells challenged by Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, apoptosis, intracellular ROS, cell morphology, mitochondrial transmembrane potential and the activation of serine/threonine kinase Akt were determined.

RESULTSAlong with marked suppression of H2O2-induced injury by Hsp27 overexpression in H9c2 cells, ROS generation and the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential were also significantly depressed. Furthermore, augmented Akt activation was observed in Hsp27 overexpressed H9c2 cells following H2O2 exposure.

CONCLUSIONSHsp27 inhibits oxidative stress-induced H9c2 damage and inhibition of ROS generation and the augmentation of Akt activation may be involved in the protective signaling.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line ; HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; physiology ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; toxicity ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; pathology ; Neoplasm Proteins ; physiology ; Oxidative Stress ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo ascertain whether other variations coexist with 1555(A--> G) mutation in the mitochondrial DNA and may aggravate the severity of hearing loss or increase the penetrance of 1555(A--> G) mutation in a large family with maternally inherited nonsyndromic deafness in Huaiyin, Jiangsu province.

METHODSPCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to screen both the nt1555 and the nt7445 of the mitochondrial DNA from 27 maternal members in the core family; and then the mitochondrial genomes from two maternal members, and the 12S rRNA genes MTRNR1 and tRNA-Ser(UCN) gene MTTS1 from the others, were amplified by PCR-RFLP and were sequenced.

RESULTS1555(A--> G) mutation in the mitochondrial DNA was reverified to be one of the major factors which cause maternally inherited nonsyndromic deafness and the cosegregation of 955-960(insC) and 1555(A--> G) was present in this family. Moreover, 7449 (insG), a novel homoplasmic mutation in the tRNA-Ser(UCN) gene, was found to co-exist with 1555(A--> G) mutation in two maternal members.

CONCLUSIONThe cosegregation of 955-960(insC) and 1555(A--> G) implies that 955-960(insC) may synergistically cause hearing loss in the presence of an 1555(A--> G) mutation, serving as an aggravating factor to enhance the sensitivity to aminoglycosides, and may sometimes increase the penetrance of 1555(A--> G) mutation.

DNA, Mitochondrial ; chemistry ; genetics ; Deafness ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genome, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Pedigree ; Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo ascertain whether connexin 26 (Cx26) gene was a nuclear modifier gene in an extensive family with matrilineal nonsyndromic deafness associated with A1555G mutation in Huaiyin, China.

METHODSFollowing PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) with ApaI restriction enzyme, Cx26 genes from 26 cases, with A1555G mitochondrial mutations in this family, and 62 controls (including 2 patrilineal relatives, 10 spouse controls and 50 unrelated controls), were sequenced.

RESULTSCompared with the reference sequence of Cx26 gene, totally four kinds of nucleotide changes,79G -->A, 109G-->A, 341G-->A and 235delC, were detected in a heterozygous form. However, the former three were previously reported polymorphisms, and only the 235delC was a previously described recessive mutation associated with most autosomal nonsyndromic sensorineural hearing loss in Japan and China. Further study showed that the heterozygous 235delC mutation existed in both one individual with mild hearing loss and two individuals with normal hearing. Clinical characterization showed that 235delC mutation did not seem to modify the deafness phenotype due to the A1555G mutation. Moreover, this 235delC mutation was deduced to derive from a married-in control. Finally, there were no co-segregation between the phenotypes of hearing loss and the genotypes for Cx26 genes based on the four kinds of nucleotide changes.

CONCLUSIONSThe heterozygous 235delC mutation of the Cx26 gene may not modulate the severity of hearing loss associated with A1555G mutation and Cx26 gene is unlikely to be a modifier gene for hearing loss due to A1555G mitochondrial mutation in this Chinese family.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Connexin 26 ; Connexins ; genetics ; Deafness ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Sequence Analysis ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEStandardization of and training in adult male circumcision can significantly reduce its complication rate. Currently no such program exists for its standardization and training, making it difficult to guarantee the quality of male circumcision services. We therefore established a standardized surgical protocol for adult male circumcision in China using the Shang Ring, and applied it to a clinical study examining the performance of the Shang Ring in adult male circumcision.

METHODSA total of 328 adult men aged 18-58 (mean 27.8) years, 25 with phimosis and 303 with redundant prepuce, underwent circumcision with the Shang Ring, and evaluation of the operation time, pain scores (using the visual analog scale), postoperative complications, time for wound healing, and their satisfaction with the postoperative appearance.

RESULTSThe operation time was 4.7 +/- 1.3 minutes. The pain scores were 0. 2 +/- 0.6 during the surgery, 1.6 +/- 1.0 twenty hours postoperatively, 1.7 +/- 1.1 twenty hours prior to the ring removal, and 2.7 +/- 1.4 during the ring removal. Complications included infection in 2 (0.6%), bleeding in 2 (0.6%), and wound dehiscence in 2 (0.6%) of the patients. None of the patients with wound dehiscence required postoperative suturing and all were managed conservatively instead. Sixteen of the patients (4.9%) experienced penile edema. The time for complete wound healing after circumcision was 20.3 +/- 6.7 days. The rate of the patients'satisfaction was 99.7% (327/328).

CONCLUSIONThe standard protocol of adult male circumcision with the Shang Ring has the advantages of short operation time, slight pain, low rate of complications, and high satisfaction and acceptance of the patients. Strict standardization of the surgical protocol can maximize its clinical advantages for adult male circumcision.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; Circumcision, Male ; methods ; standards ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phimosis ; surgery ; Reference Standards ; Young Adult