Post-polio syndrome (PPS) is a syndrome after acute infection of poliovirus and sequelae of polio. The incidence of PPS is high, and more in old patients. The pathological features of PPS include chronic nerve damage affected muscles, result in fatigue, pain, breathing and sleep disorders, fall risk, and so on, which impair their health and quality of life. The hypotheses of pathogenesis of PPS in-clude over load of motor neurons, and the continuous existence of the poliovirus, etc. PPS is a stable neuromuscular disease progressing slowly.

Objective To study the treatment effect on H22 tumor-bearing mice using ultrasound (US) combined with hematoporphyrin-loaded PLGA ultrasound contrast agents (HP-PLGA). Methods Hematoporphyrin-loaded PLGA ultrasound contrast agents were prepared using the technique of double emulsion, and the properties of the contrast agents were detected. Then 30 H22 tumor-bearing mice were averagely divided into 5 groups for different treatment. The growth curve of H22 tumor was depicted within 15 days after treatment. The inhibition rate of tumor quality on the 15th day and the index about apoptosis and proliferation on tumor of each group were measured, respectively. Results Self-made hematoporphyrin-loaded PLGA ultrasound contrast agents had mean size of 602.3 nm with encapsulation efficiency of 63.50% and drug loading of 2.15%. After treatment, tumors of the E group (US+HP-PLGA) grew most slowly compared with other groups. The inhibition rate of tumor quality and the apoptotic index in E group were significantly higher than those in other four groups (P＜0.05), while the proliferation index in E group was significantly lower than that in other groups (P＜0.05). Conclusion Ultrasound combined with hematoporphyrin-loaded PLGA ultrasound contrast agents could inhibit growth and promote the apoptosis of H22 tumor in mice, providing a novel strategy for sonodynamic therapy on the tumor.

OBJECTIVETo explain the essence of pungent-hot herb property express according to in vivo and in vitro studies on its effect on calmodulin on the base of the observation of the adjustment in hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad axis functions of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, Curculiginis Rhizoma, Cinnamomi Cortex and bitter-cold herb Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex in rats under the state of yang deficiency.

METHODThe yang-deficient model was duplicated by intramuscularly injecting hydrocortisone sodium succinate powder injection. After the intervention with Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, Curculiginis Rhizoma, Cinnamomi Cortex and bitter-cold herb Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex for seven days, TSH, T3, T4, 17-OHCS, COR, T, E2 of hypothalamus-pituitary-target gland axis and other relevant indexes were detected. The calmodulin expression in livers and L02 cells cultured in vitro was detected by using Western blot.

RESULTPungent-hot herbs Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, Curculiginis Rhizoma, Cinnamomi Cortex can significantly correct indicators of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad axis and calmodulin, whereas the bitter-cold herb Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex showed no obvious effect.

CONCLUSIONThe pungent-hot herb property expression may be closely related to calmodulin.

Animals ; Calmodulin ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Gonads ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Yang Deficiency ; drug therapy ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the repair of Xiangsha Liujunzi Decoction (XSLJZD) on interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and gap junction (GJ) in the gastric muscular layer of rats of Pi-qi deficiency syn- drome (PQDS).

METHODSPQDS was established using purgative method with bitter and cold drugs in 30 healthy Wistar rats. After successful modeling they were randomly divided into the treatment group and the model group, 15 in each group. Another 15 healthy Wistar rats were recruited as the healthy control group. Rats in the treatment group were gastric administered with XSLJZD at 2 mL/100 g body weight, once daily for 14 successive days. Equal volume of normal saline was gastrically administered to those in the healthy control group and the model group. The gastric muscle tissues were taken out before modeling, before intervention, and after intervention, respectively. Ultrastructural changes of ICC and GJ were observed using transmission electron microscope (TEM). The number and distribution of Connexin43 (Cx43) were detected using immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSResults of TEM indicated that compared with the healthy control group, both ICC and GJ in the model group showed obvious injury. ICC and GJ were apparently repaired after intervention in the treatment group. Compared with the same group before modeling, the integrated optical density (IOD) of the Cx43 expression significantly decreased in the model group before and after intervention (P <0.05). Compared with before intervention, the IOD of the Cx43 expression significantly increased in the treatment group (P <0.05). Compared with the healthy control group, the IOD of the Cx43 expression significantly decreased in the model group before and after intervention (P <0.05). Compared with the model group, the IOD of the Cx43 expression significantly increased in the treatment group (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONSUltrastructures of ICC and GJ in the gastric muscular layer of rats of PQDS were obviously damaged. XSLJZD could repair the structural damage of ICC and GJ in the gastric muscle tissues of rats of PQDS.

Animals ; Connexin 43 ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gap Junctions ; Interstitial Cells of Cajal ; drug effects ; Leydig Cells ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth ; Qi ; Rats, Wistar ; Syndrome

ZHU Lian is a deceased famous acupuncture and Moxibustion specialist, the first director and the founder of institute of Acupuncture-Moxibustion of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. This article discusses the thought and idea of education and teaching of acupuncture-moxibustion from the following three aspects: diversified education and training mode, teaching idea of new acupuncture-moxibustion with a lot of characteristics, and the founding of professional acupuncture-moxibustion college. All above have both distinct characteristics of the times and positively enlightening significance of reality.
Acupuncture ; education ; history ; Acupuncture Therapy ; history ; China ; Education, Medical ; history ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Teaching ; history

Objective To compare the difference of protein and lipid metabolism between patients with inflammatory bowel disease and healthy controls,and to investigate the association of these changes with disease activity and location of the lessions.Methods The retrospective cohort study was carried out.The data of protein and lipid metabolisms collected from 195 patients with ulcerative colitis,76patients with Crohn's disease and 97 healthy controls during 1995 to 2007 were analyzed.Disease activity were evaluated using simple clinieal colitis activity index and simple index of Crohn's disease activity.The erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR)and C-reactive protein(CRP)were measured.Results Serum levels of ESR in patients with ulcerative colitis were negatively linear correlated with serum levels of albumin/globulin ratio(β=-0.521,P＜0.01)and positively linear correlated with serum levels of α2globulin(β=0.319,P＜0.01).Serum levels of globulin in patients with Crohn's disease were positively linear correlated with serum levels of ESR(β=0.558,P＜0.01)and CRP(β=0.424,P=0.01).In ulcerative colitis,serum levels of albumin/globulin ratio,albumin and total cholesterol were significantly higher in patients with proctosigmoiditis than those in patients with lesions at other locus(P=0.003,0.005,0.038,respectively).In Crohn's disease,serum level of globulin was significantly higher in patients with lesions only at colon than that in patients with lesions only at small bowel(P=0.029).Conclusions Serum levels of albumin/globulin ratio and α2-globulin can be predictors of inflammatory activity in patients with ulcerative colitis.The increasing serum globulin may predict the progression of disease activity in patients with Crohn's disease.The nutritional deficiency is more critical in patiens with small bowel involvement than those with colon involvement.

Objective To evaluate the effects of asymptomatic arteriovenous fistula closure on left ventricular morphology and function in renal transplant recipients.Methods Between March 2007 and March 2011,a total of 60 patients undergoing consecutive kidney transplantation with asymptomatic arteriovenous fistula were divided randomly into two groups: arteriovenous fistula closure group,and non-arteriovenous fistula closure group.By using echocardiography,the changes in CO,CI,EF,LVEDV and LVMI were analyzed.Results At 12th month after transplantation,the values of CO,LVEDV and LVMI were significantly lower than those before transplantation (P＜0.05).The value of CI also showed a tendency to decrease (P＞0.05),and the value of EF was increased significantly (P＜0.05).At 6th month after arteriovenous fistula closure (18 months after transplantation),the values of CO,CI,LVEDV and LVMI were significantly lower than those before arteriovenous fistula closure (12 months after transplantation) (P＜0.05),and the value of EF was increased significantly (P＜0.05),but the values of CO,CI,EF,LVEDV and LVMI remained unc(b)anged in controls (P＞0.05).At 18th month after transplantation,the values of CO (4.4 ±0.8 L/min),CI [3.0 ± 0.8 L·min-1·m-2],LVEDV (110.0 ± 17.4 ml) and LVMI (114.7 ± 42.5g/m2) in trial group were significantly lower than the values [CO: 5.1 ± 0.9 L/min,CI: 3.5 ± 1.0L·min-1·m-2,LVEDV: 121.4±19.3 mL,LVMI: 138.4±44.1 g/m2] in controls (P＜0.05),and the value of EF (75.2％ ± 7.4％ vs.70.5％ ± 8.2％) significantly higher (P＜005).Conclusion In both groups,kidney transplantation benefits significantly the regression of cardiac mass,cardiac index and left ventricular dimensions,but closure of asymptomatic AVF induces more significant regression.

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of 18F-FDG PET-CT in lymphoma associated hemophagocytic syndrome (HSP).Methods Retrospective analysis of 30 patients with HPS who underwent 18F-FDG PET-CT detection,and was also compared to pathologically confirmed lymphoma associated HPS to evaluate its diagnostic sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value,and to analyze the characteristics of PET-CT imaging in lymphoma associated HPS.Results In the 30 patients,the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value in detecting lymphoma associated HPS by 18F-FDG PET-CT were 85.71％ (12/14),93.75 ％ (15/16),92.31％ (12/13) and 88.24 ％(15/17),respectively.The sensitivities of PET-CT between T-cell and B-cell lymphoma related HPS had no significant difference (P =0.066).In superficial lymph nodes,supraclavicular lymph nodes were the most commonly involved.In deeper tissues and organs,spleen was the most commonly involved site,followed by liver,abdominal retroperitoneal lymph nodes and bone marrow.Conclusion 18F-FDG PET-CT has a high sensitivity and specificity in the detection of lymphoma associated HPS,and may provide valuable information for diagnosis and treatment.

BACKGROUNDTuberculosis (TB) is a chronic wasting inflammatory disease characterized by multisystem involvement, which can cause metabolic derangements in afflicted patients. Metabolic signatures have been exploited in the study of several diseases. However, the serum that is successfully used in TB diagnosis on the basis of metabolic profiling is not by much.

METHODSOrthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis was capable of distinguishing TB patients from both healthy subjects and patients with conditions other than TB. Therefore, TB-specific metabolic profiling was established. Clusters of potential biomarkers for differentiating TB active from non-TB diseases were identified using Mann-Whitney U-test. Multiple logistic regression analysis of metabolites was calculated to determine the suitable biomarker group that allows the efficient differentiation of patients with TB active from the control subjects.

RESULTSFrom among 271 participants, 12 metabolites were found to contribute to the distinction between the TB active group and the control groups. These metabolites were mainly involved in the metabolic pathways of the following three biomolecules: Fatty acids, amino acids, and lipids. The receiver operating characteristic curves of 3D, 7D, and 11D-phytanic acid, behenic acid, and threoninyl-γ-glutamate exhibited excellent efficiency with area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.904 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0863-0.944), 0.93 (95% CI: 0.893-0.966), and 0.964 (95% CI: 00.941-0.988), respectively. The largest and smallest resulting AUCs were 0.964 and 0.720, indicating that these biomarkers may be involved in the disease mechanisms. The combination of lysophosphatidylcholine (18:0), behenic acid, threoninyl-γ-glutamate, and presqualene diphosphate was used to represent the most suitable biomarker group for the differentiation of patients with TB active from the control subjects, with an AUC value of 0.991.

CONCLUSIONThe metabolic analysis results identified new serum biomarkers that can distinguish TB from non-TB diseases. The metabolomics-based analysis provides specific insights into the biology of TB and may offer new avenues for TB diagnosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Tuberculosis ; blood

AIM:To investigate regulatory roles of Apelin in adventitial remodeling and fibrosis in rats with transverse aortic constriction ( TAC) .METHODS:The male Sprague-Dawley rats with TAC were randomized to daily deliver either pyroglutamyl Apelin-13 ( 50μg/kg) or saline for 4 weeks.RESULTS:Histomorphometric analysis by HE and Masson Trichrome staining revealed increased medi -al and adventitial thicknesses , especially in the adventitia , in ascending aortas in rats with TAC when compared with the sham-operated rats.Downregulation of APJ receptor and elevations in phosphorylated mTOR and ERK 1/2 levels were observed in rats with TAC . There are marked increases in heart weight ( HW) , HW/body weight ratio , and aortic fibrosis in rats with TAC .The pressure over-load-mediated pathological adventitial remodeling was strikingly rescued by Apelin-13, associated with attenuation of aortic fibrosis and reduced mRNA expression of TGF-β1, fibronectin and collagen I .CONCLUSION:Our results demonstrate the importance of Apelin-13 in amelioration of aortic adventitial remodeling and fibrosis in rats with TAC via modulation of the mTOR /ERK signaling , thus indi-cating potential therapeutic strategies by enhancing Apelin /APJ action for preventing pressure overload-and fibrosis-associated cardio-vascular disorders .