Objective To investigate the expression difference of microRNA -21 (miRNA-21) in patients with chronic cardiac function and analyze its clinical significance. Methods Patients with chronic heart failure (trial group,150 cases) and the subjects without chronic heart failure (control group,45 cases) were enrolled. Patients with chronic heart failure were divided into three subgroups according to NYHA: group A (heart function classⅡ,49 cases),group B (classⅢ, 51 cases) and group C (class Ⅳ, 50 cases). miRNA-21 levels were detected by qRT-PCR method. The levels of B type natriuretic peptide urea (BNP),left ventricular end diastole diameter (LVEDD) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were determined. Results miRNA-21 expression in patients with heart failure were higher than that of control group (P < 0.01),and miRNA-21 expression in group C was higher than that of group A.Correlation analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between expression of BNP (r = 0.763,P < 0.01), LVEDD (r = 0.691,P<0.01), and the level of miRNA-21 in patients with chronic heart failure.And a negative correlation between LVEF value and the level of miRNA-21 (r = -0.918,P < 0.01). Conclusion miRNA-21 might be a potential marker for diagnosis of heart failure and could be a basis for reference about prognosis evaluation.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate in vitro effect of abnormal savda munziq (ASMq) on the proliferation and apoptosis of human hypertrophic scar fibroblasts (HSFs).

METHODSHSFs were divided into six groups to receive different treatments as group A (blank control group), group B-E (ASMq in different concentration), and group F(5-Fu). Each group contains six specimens. The HSFs were cultured in vitro. After culture for 48 hours, the CCK8 test and flow cytometry methods were used to detect the proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis.

RESULTSThe proliferation of HSFs in the B, C, D and E groups was inhibited at G2/M period, while it was inhibited at G0/S period in group F (P < 0.05). The inhibition effect of ASMq (0.1-1.0 mg/ml) on the fibroblasts enhanced in a concentration-dependent manner. Flow cytometry analysis with annexin V-FITC and PI staining confirmed the apoptotic. When HSFs were exposed to ASMq at 1.0 mg/ml (group E) for 48 h, the percentage of apoptotic cells increased to (43.7 +/- 2.58)%, which was significantly higher than that of blank control group (2.2 +/- 0.59)%. The induced apoptosis effect was also increased in a concentration-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONASMq has a inhibitory effect on the proliferation and an enhancement effect on the apoptosis of fibroblast. ASMq could be used as an effective drug for treatment of hypertrophic scar.

Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; physiology ; Cell Division ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; pathology ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional

Bel1, a transactivator of prototype foamy virus (PFV), plays pivotal roles in the replication of PFV. Previous studies have shown that Bel1 bears a nuclear localization signal (NLS), but its amino acid sequence remains unclear and the corresponding importins have not been identified. In this report, we inserted various fragments of Bel1 into an EGFP-GST fusion protein and investigated their subcellular localization by fluorescence microscopy. We found that the 215PRQKRPR221 fragment could direct nuclear localization, which accords with the consensus sequence K(K/R)X(K/R) of monopartite NLS. Point mutation experiments revealed that K218, R219, and R221 are essential for the nuclear localization of Bel1. The results of the GST-pulldown showed that the Bel1 fragment with residues 215-223, which bears the NLS, interacts with KPNA1, KPNA6, and KPNA7. This result suggests that KPNA1, KPNA6, and KPNA7 maybe involved in Bel1 nuclear translocation.
Cell Line ; Cell Nucleus ; genetics ; metabolism ; virology ; Humans ; Nuclear Localization Signals ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Protein Transport ; Retroviridae Infections ; genetics ; metabolism ; virology ; Retroviridae Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Spumavirus ; chemistry ; genetics ; physiology ; Trans-Activators ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; alpha Karyopherins ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To evaluate renal hemodynamic changes in hydronephrosis children with no image on intravenous urography by color doppler flow image(CDFI). Methods The resistance indexes(RIs)in main renal arteries(MRAs),interlobar renal arteries(IRAs)and arcuate renal arteries(ARAs)were measured in 48 children with hydronephrosis with no image on intravenous urography.The thickness and area were also measured in hydronephrotic kidneys.Resistive index ration(RIR=hydronephrotic kidneys RI/contralateral RI)was calculated. And pathological changes of kidneys were graded in these cases.Spearman's correlation test was used to compare RIR and pathological grades in these kidneys. Results In healthy and hydronephrotic kidneys,the relevant parameters were as fol1.13±0.14,1.14±0.09,respectively in MRAs,IRAs,ARAs in hydronephrotic kidneys(P＞ness,area of hydronephrotic kidneys(P＜0.05),also between RIR and thickness,araa(P＜0.05),MRAs,IRAs,ARAs and pathologic grades(P＜0.05),especially in IRP(s(r=0.795,P＜0.01).Conclusions RIR of IRA could be an ideal parameter of renal hemodynamics to evaluate renal damage in children with congenital hydronephrosis with no image on intravenous urography.

Objective To investigate the applicability of zebra fish thrombosis model in antithrombotic activity screening of Chinese materia medica.Methods The living zebra fish thrombosis model was induced by adrenaline hydrochloride. Zebra fish were randomly divided into blank control group, model group, positive medicine group and medication group. Each group was given the corresponding medicine or embryo culture water. O-anisidine staining solution was used to stain and calculate the staining intensity of erythrocytes in zebra fish heart, and quantitative analysis was carried out. The platelet aggregation of transgenic zebra fish was observed and under qualitative analysis. Results Compared with the model group, 100μg/mL salvianolic acid B, 300, 900μg/mL aqueous extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza, 45μg/mL 95% ethanol extract and 400, 1200μg/mL hypothalamus could significantly inhibited the formation of zebra fish thrombosis (P<0.01).ConclusionZebra fish thrombosis model has good applicability in antithrombotic activity screening of Chinese materia medica.

In order to summarize and perfect the basic skill practicing method in acupuncture teaching and form a characteristic teaching, the research on skill training and technique improving of acupuncture and tuina major was carried out. The undergraduate students in acupuncture and tuina major from College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group. Students from both groups received the basic courses of acupuncture-moxibustion and tuina as requested in the syllabus and the special teaching was added to the experimental group, namely "three practice" (strength practice, coordination practice, targeted practice of acupuncture basic skills) and "three enlightenment" (technique enlightenment, mind and qi enlightenment, efficacy enlightenment). During and after the courses, the teaching effectiveness was evaluated on the basis of needling manipulation. The peacetime score in the experimental group was superior to that in the control group (38.03 +/- 1.14 vs 33.25 +/- 1.31, P < 0.05), the total score in the experimental group was superior to that in the control group (84.03 +/- 6.30 vs 78.05 +/- 6.55, P < 0.05). The special teaching method of "three practice" and "three enlightenment" can improve the effect of skill training teaching method. It highlights the unique feature of central plains by integrating the essence of Shaolin internal qigong and Chen-style Taiji, it can also provide new ideas for the practical teaching of TCM professional courses and the construction of characteristic professionals.
Acupuncture ; education ; manpower ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Students ; Teaching

During professor SHAO Jing-ming's academic research and medical practice, his academic opinion of focusing spirit is gradually developed. In terms of nurturing the spirit, attention should be paid on persistence as well as everyday health maintenance and exercise to nurture the spirit of physician. In terms of clinical diagnosis and treatment, patients' psychology, employment and life status should be observed and experienced, which could bring more methods to take essential care of patients' spirit. The treatment should work with psychological counseling, advocating that based on patients' qi and spirit, various forms of treatment methods should be properly used, such as acupuncture or moxibustion or combination of acupuncture and medicine, along with simple acupoint selection and harmony medication. Before clinical treatment of acupuncture, calming the mind is critically emphasized to make a clear diagnosis. During the acupuncture, calming and focusing the mind is necessary as well as emphasizing the details, so acupuncture could be integrated with Chi Gong to create a new warming-sensation technique. In a word, the academic opinion of focusing spirit is shedding an inspiring light upon further study.
Acupuncture ; education ; history ; Acupuncture Therapy ; history ; psychology ; China ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Humans

YANG Ji-zhou, a famous scientist of acupuncture and moxibustion in the Ming Dynasty. He was a great master not only in manipulation methods of acupuncture, but also in moxibustion therapy, with unique and profound deep cognition. His main contributions include the three aspects: (1) collected a great deal of methods and experience of moxibustion treatment from moxibustion physicians and gathered and mustered a great works about moxibustion methods before the Ming Dynasty; (2) combined with his own clinical experiences, systematized the methods and techniques of moxibustion, including the relationship between posture and point-fathoming, the treatment orders, the size of moxa cone, the number of moxa cones, the techniques of burning moxa, the methods for vesiculation moxibustion, etc. forming a more systematic manipulation standard; (3) invented and formed YANG's characteristics of clinical moxibustion treatment, i. e selecting a few points to dredge the meridian-qi, grasping opportunity of moxibustion, combining acupuncture and moxibustion with medicine, and consolidating the therapeutic effect by proper diet after treatment.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; methods

OBJECTIVETo probe into the effect of acupuncture at "Sishencong" (EX-HN 1) on sleep and the mechanism.

METHODSForty-eight white mice were randomly divided into a Sishencong group, a Zusanli group, a model group and a blank control group, 12 mice in each group. In the mice of the first 3 groups, sleep rhythm disorders was induced by repeatedly regular intraperitoneal injection of small dose of Caffeine, and the mice of the first two groups were treated by acupuncture at "Sishencong" (EX-HN 1) and "Zusanli" (ST 36), respectively. Living state and, circadian activities were observed, and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and nitric oxide(NO) content in the brain were detected.

RESULTSAcupuncture at "Sishencong" (EX-HN 1) or "Zusanli" (ST 36) could significantly increase NOS activity and NO content in the brain, with acupuncture at "Sishencong" (EX-HN 1) being significantly better than acupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at Sishencong (EX-HN 1) treats insomnia and regulates sleep and many mental and nervous symptoms, which are carried out partially through increasing NOS activity and NO content, promoting normal function of brain tissues.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Male ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide ; analysis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Sleep Wake Disorders ; physiopathology ; psychology ; therapy

Objective To research the molecular biology characteristics and transient expression in BHK-21 cells of E geue segment from Japanese encephalitis virus(JEV) and construct an eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-C1-JEV.Methods E gene segment of JEV was amplified by RT-PCR,construct the recombinant vector pEGFP-C1-JEV,which could express EGFP label proteins.Transfect pEGFP-C1-JEV vector into BHK-21 via LipofectAMINETM 2000,to observe expressing of EGFP label protein and transcription of aim gene,and to check up localization and antigenicity of expressed E protein by Immunohistochemistry and Western blot.Results It showed that the recombinant plasmid pEGFP-C1-JEV was successfully constructed and transfected to BHK-21 cells,the normal expression of green fluorescent protein expression rate was higher.RT-PCR showed that gene transcription in BHK-21 and normal expression,expression protein was mainly distributed in the cytoplasm of BHK-21 cells and the envelope in,and can with guinea pig anti-JEV antibody binding.Conclusion pEGFP-C1-JEV vector in BHK-21 cells was normal expression and there were no effect on cell growth and morphology.Meanwhile,on eukaryotic antigens was good antigenicity.This research as a base foundation for E protein gene of JEV eukaryotic expression and function in vitro and applied research.