Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; Adult ; Breathing Exercises ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Dysmenorrhea ; therapy ; Exhalation ; Female ; Humans ; Needles

Objective To study the relationship of microinflammation,nutrition and common carotid artery intima-media thickness(CCA-IMT) for the early prevention and interference of ischemic stroke. Methods(CCA-IMT was) measured by carotid arterial ultrasound in 250 elderly subjects.The levels of serum high-sensitivity C-(reactive) protein(hsCRP),ferritin,albumin,pre-albumin and transferrin were assayed at the same time.According to the results of CCA-IMT,all the subjects were divided into five groups:

Adult ; Epilepsy ; chemically induced ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Nitrobenzenes ; poisoning ; Occupational Exposure ; Poisoning ; complications ; therapy

BACKGROUND:Our previous studies have shown that salidroside can induce bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells directly into neuron-like cells, and Ca2+signal is one important way to achieve its biological signal transduction. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the role and mechanism of the calcium/calmodulin (Ca 2+/CaM) signaling pathway inducing bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate into nerve cells. METHODS:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were divided into two groups:control groups and salidroside groups. Salidroside groups were induced with different concentrations of salidroside (5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 mg/L) for 24 hours and 100 mg/L salidroside was added to culture cells for different time (12, 24, 48 and 72 hours). Western blot assay was used to detect the expression levels of neural cellmarker, microtubule-associated protein 2, and the important protein of Ca2+/CaM signaling pathway:CaM and calmodulin dependent kinase II (CaMK II). Then Ca2+/CaM signaling pathway specific blockers were applied to cells respectively for 30 minutes, including 500 μmol/L EGTA (Ca 2+chelator), 1 mmol/L Nifedipine(L-type Ca2+channel blocker) and 10 mmol/L LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor). Then, 100 mg/L salidroside was added and cultured for 24 hours. Western blot assay was used to detect the expression of neuron-specific enolase and CaM in the Ca2+/CaM signaling pathway. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) After inducing with salidroside, the expression of microtubule-associated protein 2 were upregulated (P<0.01), indicating that salidrosid can induce the neuronal differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. (2) After different concentrations of salidrosid induced bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells for 24 hours, the expressions of CaM and CaMK II were significantly upregulated in the 10 mg/L group ( P<0.01);For the 100 mg/L salidrosid that was added for cellinduction for different time, the expressions of CaM and CaMK II were significantly downregulated in 72-hour group (P<0.01). (3) After blocking extracellular Ca2+and PI3K signaling pathway, the expressions of neuron-specific enolase and CaM were higher than those in salidrosid groups (P<0.05). These results suggest that salidrosid can induce bone marrow mesenchymal stem cellto directly differentiate into nerve cells by inhibiting the Ca2+/CaM signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the expression of CD133 and CD44 proteins in gastric stromal tumors (GST) and their clinical significances. Methods The expression of CD44 and CD133 proteins in the GST tissues of 112 patients was detected by immunohistochemical staining. The relation between the expression of CD44 and CD133 proteins and the clinicopathological characters was analyzed. The survival and prognosis of GST were also analyzed. Results Both CD44 and CD133 were expressed on the cell membranes. The expression rates of CD44 and CD133 were 58.04 % (65/112) and 42.86 % (48/112) separately; the co-expression rate of CD44 and CD133 was 27.68 % (31/112). CD44 and CD133 were negative in normal peritumoral tissues. No correlation was found between CD44 and CD133 and the clinicopathological parameters including gender, age and lymphatic vessel invasion (all P>0.05), but the expression levels of CD44 and CD133 in patients with the mitotic count ≥ 5/50 high-power field, large diameter and vascular invasion were significantly higher (all P<0.05). No correlation was found between co-expression of CD44 and CD133 and the clinical clinicopathological parameters including gender, age, the mitotic count ≥ 5/50 high-power field and vascular invasion (all P>0.05), but the co-expression level of CD44 and CD133 in patients with tumor diameter ≥5 cm was significantly higher than that in patients with tumor diameter < 5 cm (χ2=5.040, P=0.025). The overall survival rate of the patients with co-expression of CD44 and CD133 was shorter than that in other groups (χ2 = 8.758, P= 0.001). No correlation was found between CD44 and CD133 expression (r=0.126, P=0.210). Multivariate analysis with the Cox regression models showed that the tumor diameter ≥5 cm (P=0.042) and co-expression of CD44 and CD133 (P=0.003) were significantly associated with poor prognosis. Conclusion CD44 and CD133 as robust cancer stem cell markers in GST might be the prognostic factors.

Objective: To explore the intensity of coplanar arc-adjusted radiotherapy with volume-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and whether the position of the head tilt influences the distribution of radiotherapy dose. Methods: From 2015 to 2017, 500 patients underwent radiotherapy of the head and kept their head tilted. The simulated non-inclined CT images were obtained by rotating the original CT images. The protocol of the coplanar VMAT whole brain irradiation was 30 Gy and the maximum dose of planning target volume in the hippocampus was limited to 16 Gy. The doses of the optic nerve, optic chiasm and eyeball were lower than 37.5 Gy. The dosimetric parameters of two different protocols were statistically compared by paired t-test. Results: The average head tilt angle was (11.12°±0.68°). The homogeneity and the conformal index in the tilted and non-tilted positions were decreased by (8.3±9.6)%(P=0.033) and (5.2±4.1)%(P=0.009). The dose of hippocampus in the tilted position of the head was decreased by (13.6±6.2)% on average compared with that in the non-inclined position (P=0.004). The dose of the lenses was decreased by (15.5±11.1)%(P=0.008) on average. The doses of optic nerve and eyeball were declined by (6.8±5.6)%(P=0.013) and (8.6±6.5)%(P=0.016). Conclusions By tilting the head at an appropriate angle during VMAT whole-brain radiotherapy, the radiation dose distribution of the target volume can be significantly improved and the radiation dose in the hippocampus and visual system can be reduced simultaneously to maintain the therapeutic effect and minimize the effect upon the cognitive and memory function of patients.

AIMTo study the NMR phenomena of cetirizine hydrochloride and assign all proton and carbon signals in NMR spectra.

METHODSTo record the 1D and 2D NMR spectra of cetirizine hydrochloride while changing the experimental temperature and adding D2O into the solution.

RESULTSMore than one NMR signal or broad peak resulting from piperazine and the attached groups with N atom were given in DMSO-d6 solution at room temperature. "Coalescence" or narrowing had occurred for the proton and carbon signals when the experimental temperature was increased or D2O was added into the solution.

CONCLUSIONCompared with the NMR "time scale", there are more than one conformation of cetirizine hydrochloride in DMSO-d6 solution at room temperature. The different conformation will be exchanged fast while temperature rise and the stable conformation will be existed while D2O was added into the solution.

Cetirizine ; chemistry ; Deuterium ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Protein Conformation ; Temperature

Background The proliferation and migration of vascular endothelial cells is a primary link during angiogenesis.Studies showed that heat shock protein B6 (HspB6) promotes the secretion of multiple angiogenesis-related factors and therefore leads to neovascularization.Understanding the effects of neutralizing HspB6 antibody on the biological behavior of human choroidal vascular endothelial cells has an important significance in the target treatment of choroidal neovacularization diseases.Objective This study was to address the role and mechanism of neutralizing HspB6 antibody in tube formation of human choroidal vascular endothelial cells.Methods Human choroidal vascular endothelial cell line was normally cultured and harvested for total RNA extraction.Expressions of HspB6 mRNA and protein in human choroidal vascular endothelial cells were detected by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and flow cytometry (FCM).The cells were seeded on 96-well plate covered with matrigel at the density of 2×104/hole.Then the neutralizing HspB6 antibody at the concentration of 100 μg/Land 500 μg/L was added into the medium respectively,and the control cells were set without the addition of HspB6 antibody.The number of capillary tubes was calculated 12 hours after culture by three-dimensional matrigel assay.In addition,0,50,100,500 μg/L of neutralizing HspB6 antibody were added into the cell medium separately for 24hours,cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method was employed to assay the inhibitory rate(IR) of the cells.Transwell test was used to count the cell number across chamber membrane for the evaluation of migration ability of the cells.The apoptosis of the cells was assayed by FCM.Results Both HspB6 mRNA and protein were expressed on human choroidal vascular endothelial cells.The number of capillary tube formation of human choroidal vascular endothelial cells was (67.25±5.75),(60.39±6.41) and (39.76±10.73) /field in the 0,100 and 500 μg/L neutralizing HspB6 antibody groups,with significant difference among them (F =10.210,P =0.012),and the tube number was significantly less in the 500 μg/L neutralizing HspB6 antibody group compared with 0 μg/L neutralizing HspB6 group (P =0.005).The IR of neutralizing HspB6 antibody to the cellular proliferation and migration was enhanced with the increases of concentration and time lapse(Fconcentration =7.485,P =0.002 ; Ftime =16.684,P =0.001).The number of the cells through Transwell chamber membrane was 14.0 ± 2.5,11.1 ± 0.8,6.6 ± 0.1,6.7 ± 0.2 in the 0,50,100,500 μg/L neutralizing HspB6 antibody group respectively,and that in the 100 μg/L and 500 μg/L neutralizing HspB6 antibody group was lessened in comparison with the 0 μg/L neutralizing HspB6 antibody group(both at P=0.000).The apoptosis rate of the cells was (22.73 ± 2.53)％ in the neutralizing HspB6 antibody group,which was significantly lower than (13.33±2.08) ％ of the control group (t=4.967,P=0.008).Conclusions Neutralizing HspB6 antibody inhibits capillary tube formation of human choroidal endothelial cells in vitro in dose-and timedependent manner,probably through suppressing the proliferation and migration and promoting the apoptosis of choroidal endothelial cells.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the correlation of neutral alpha-glucosidase in seminal plasma with the location of epididymal obstruction in azoospermia men.

METHODSWe detected neutral alpha-glucosidase activity in the seminal plasma of 59 men with obstructive azoospermia followed by determining the location of epididymal obstruction by scrotal exploratory surgery. Then we analyzed the correlation between neutral alpha-glucosidase and the location of epididymal obstructive azoospermia.

RESULTSAmong the total number of patients, there were 25 cases of bilateral cauda epididymal obstruction, 15 bilateral corpus, 12 bilateral caput, 4 unilateral caput-opposite cauda, and 3 unilateral corpus-opposite cauda. The neutral alpha-glucosidase levels in the seminal plasma of bilateral cauda, corpus and capus epididymal obstructions were (4.1 +/- 1.9), (13.8 +/- 4.4) and (46.8 +/- 19.3) mU per ejaculate, respectively, with statistically significant differences among the three groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONNeutral alpha-glucosidase activity is significantly correlated with the location of epididymal obstruction in azoospermia men, which helps to locate epididymal obstruction, evaluate surgical prognosis and reduce the time of scrotal exploratory surgery.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; enzymology ; pathology ; Epididymis ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Semen ; enzymology ; alpha-Glucosidases ; metabolism

AIM To compare the effects of sealed moistening with brine,simple stir-frying and stir-frying with brine on the contents of psoralen,psoralen,psoralen and psoralen in Psoraleae Fructus aqueous extract.METHODS The HPLC analysis of aqueous extract was performed on a 30 ℃ thermostatic Hibar C1s column (250 mm × 4.6 mm,5 μm),with the mobile phase comprising of 0.1％ formic acid-methanol flowing at 1.0 mL/min in a gradient elution manner,and the detection wavelength was set at 246 nm.RESULTS Compared with the raw product,the contents of glycosides and total components in the product processed with sealed moistening with brine were significantly decreased.Stir-frying with brine could significantly promote the dissolution of glycosides (psoralen and psoralen),but had no significant effect on that of aglycones (psoralen and isopsoralen).Simple stirfrying markedly increased the contents of various constituents.CONCLUSION Both simple stir-frying and stir-frying with brine can significantly increase the total content of four constituents in Psoraleae Fructus aqueous extract.