In recent years (2007 to 2011),although the overall number of rabies cases in China has decreased,there is evidence of emerging or re-emerging cases in regions without previous rabies cases or with low incidence of rabies.To investigate the origin and the factors affecting the spread of rabies in China,specimens were collected from 2007 to 2011 from provinces with emerging and re-emerging cases and tested for the presence of the rabies virus.Positive specimens were combined with sequences from GenBank to perform comparisons of homology and functional sites,and to carry out phylogenetic analyses.Out of these regions,five provinces had 9positive specimens from canine and cattle,and 34 canine or human specimens were obtained from previously high-incidence provinces.Complete sequences of G gene were obtained for these samples.Homology of the sequences of these 43 specimens was 87％-100％ at the nucleotide level and 93.7％ -100％ at the amino acid level.These G gene sequences were combined with reference sequence from GenBank and used to construct a phylogenetic tree.The results showed that 43 specimens were all assigned to China clade I and clade Ⅱ,with all specimens from emerging and re-emerging areas placed within clade I.Specimens isolated from Shanxi and Inner Mongolia in 2011 were distinct from previously-isolated local strains and had closer homology to strains from Hebei,Beijing and Tianjin whereas new isolates from Shanghai were tightly clustered with strains isolated in the 1990s.Finally,Shaanxi isolates were clustered with strains from adjacent Sichuan.Our results suggest that the rabies cases in emerging and re-emerging areas in China in the last 5 years are a consequence of the epidemic spreading from of neighboring provinces and regions experiencing a serious epidemic of rabies.

OBJECTIVETo consummate the standard of macroscopic syndrome differentiation for diagnosis of dampness syndrome in patients with chronic gastritis (CG), based on the essentials of syndrome differentiation in TCM diagnostics and combined with the multivariant mathematical statistic method. And try to find out the methods and approaches for establishing standard for TCM syndrome differentiation.

METHODSClinical investigation on CG patients was carried out adopting clinical epidemiological method.

RESULTSThe meaningful symptoms for making diagnosis of Pi-Wei damp-heat syndrome in frequency order, were red tongue with yellow and greasy fur, sticky and greasy sensation in mouth, brown urine, constipation, dry stool, flushed face and ponderous extremities. Those for Pi deficiency with damp retention syndrome were swollen tongue with teeth-print, greasy fur, sticky and greasy sensation in mouth, tastelessness, and poor appetite.

CONCLUSIONBy combining the integrative medical theory with multivariant statistic method, the meaningful essentials for diagnosis of dampness syndrome can be screened out.

Adult ; Chronic Disease ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Gastritis ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Reference Standards

Child ; Ear Auricle ; pathology ; Ear Neoplasms ; Humans ; Male ; Melanoma

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in clinical efficacy on children attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) between the combined therapy of scalp acupuncture and EGG biofeedback and the simple EEG biofeedback therapy so as to search the better therapeutic method for ADHD.

METHODSOne hundred patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 50 cases in each one. In the control group, the simple EEG biofeedback therapy was adopted. In the observation group, on the basis of biofeedback therapy, scalp acupuncture was added and applied to Dingzhongxian (MS 5), Dingpangyixian (MS 8), Baihui (GV 20), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), etc. The ten treatments made one session. After four sessions of treatment, FIQ value in Wechsler intelligence scale, CIH score in Conners children behavior questionnaire, the ratio of 0 wave and p wave in EEG, FRCQ and FAQ in the integrated visual and auditory continuous performance test (IVA-CPT) and clinical comprehensive efficacy were observed before and after treatment in the two groups separately.

RESULTSThree cases were dropped out in the observation group and 2 cases were out in the control group. In the two groups, FIQ, FRCQ and FAQ were all increased after treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); the increases in the observation group were much more significant than those in the control group after treatment (all P < 0.05). In the two groups, CIH score and the ratio of 0 wave and p wave were all reduced after treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); the reduction in the observation group were much more apparent as compared with those in the control group (both P< 0.05). The total effective rate was 91.5% (43/47) in the observation group and better than 83. 3% (40/48, P < 0.01) in the control group.

CONCLUSIONThe combined therapy of scalp acupuncture and EEG biofeedback achieves the superior efficacy on children ADHD as compared with the simple biofeedback therapy. This combined therapy rapidly relieves the essential symptoms of ADHD and improves EEG waveform in children patients. Importantly, this therapy obtains and consolidates the significant efficacy.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; psychology ; therapy ; Biofeedback, Psychology ; Child ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Electroencephalography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Scalp

OBJECTIVETo grasp the therapeutic effect of Taizhi'an (TZA) in lowering blood lipid level.

METHODSThree hundred patients with hyperlipidemia were randomly divided adopting numerical table method into 7 groups, the Taizhi'an group (A, n = 90), the half-dose Fenofibrate plus Taizhi'an group (B, n = 30), the full-dose Fenofibrate group (C, n = 30), the half-dose Simvastatin plus Taizhi'an group (D, n = 30), the full-dose Simvastatin group (E, n = 30), the Zhibituo group (F, n = 60) and the Xuezhikang group (G, n = 30). The effect in different groups were compared after 8 weeks treatment.

RESULTSIn group A, the total cholesterol (TC) lowered by 12.7%, triglyceride (TG) lowered by 22.1% and the high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) increased by 13.1%, the total effective rate being 82%. The therapeutic effect in group B was similar to that in group C, and that in group D was similar to that in group E (P > 0.05). The therapeutic effect of Taizhi'an was similar to that of Xuezhikang and Zhibituo, but was better than Zhibituo in lowering TG, LDL-C and increasing HDL-C, and better than Xuezhikang in lowering TG and increasing HDL-C (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONWhen Taizhi'an used in combination with half-dose Simvastatin, it could not only enhance the blood lipid regulatory effect of Simvastatin but also reduce the dosage used and alleviate its adverse reaction. Compared with Xuezhikang and Zhibituo, Taizhi'an got the similar therapeutic effect, but was superior in regulating blood lipids.

Adult ; Aged ; Anticholesteremic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy

Objective To study the relationship between the inflammatory cytokine levels and the expression of hepatic alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) in hyperlipidemia rats and to investigate the intervention effect of Yirui Capsules ( mainly composed of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, Fructus Crataegi, Rhizoma Alismatis, etc). Methods Fifty male SD rats were randomly divided into blank control group ( fed with conventional diet, N=10) and high-fat diet group (fed with high-fat diet, N=40). After feeding for 14 d, the forty rats in high-fat diet group were further randomly divided into model control group, and low-, middle-, and high-dose Yirui Capsules groups (140, 280, 560 mg/kg, respectively), 10 rats in each group and the treatment lasting 30 days. And then, the serum levels of lipids were detected, C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) -α in the serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA) , and the expression of hepatic α7 nAChR was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) . Results Yirui Capsules in different dosages could improve serum lipid levels in hyperlipidemia rats to various degrees. The contents of serum inflammatory cytokines CRP and TNF-α and the mRNA expression of hepatic α7nAChR were increased in the model control group as compared with those in the blank control group ( P<0.01). The contents of inflammatory cytokines CRP, TNF-αand the mRNA expression of hepatic α7nAChR were decreased in the three Yirui Capsules groups as compared with those in the model control group ( P<0.01). The results of immunohistochemical staining for α7nAChR expression were consistent with RT-PCR results. Conclusion The expression of hepatic α7nAChR is increased in hyperlipidemia rats. Yirui capsules are effective on decreasing inflammatory cytokine levels, improving lipid metabolism, and down-regulating α7nAChR expression.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of jin’s three-needle scalp electroacupuncture on Cyt-c and Caspase-3 expressions in the cerebral cortex in Intrauterine distress-induced HIBD rats and reveal the mechanism of its protective action on the brain. MethodThe abdomen was incised in a female SD rat at 21 days of pregnancy. Bilateral uterine horn blood vessels were tightly clamped with a hemostat for five minutes. An infant rat was then taken out by a cesarean section. A rat model of hypoxic-ischemic brain damage was confirmed by the use of a behavior test and braintissue sections. The rats were randomized into model and acupuncture groups. The model group was not needled. Acupuncture groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 began to be needled at 3, 5, 7 and 14 days after birth, respectively. Acupuncture treatment was given for seven consecutive days. The normal control group was naturally delivered, not used to make a model and not needled. All groups of rats were decapitated to take the brain tissue at 21 daysafter birth. Cyt-c and Caspase-3 expressions in the cerebral cortex were detected.ResultCyt-c optical density value decreased somewhat in the four acupuncture groups; there was a statistically significant difference between acupuncture group 1 or 2 and the modelgroup (P<0.05). Caspase-3 expression was significantly down-regulated in acupuncture group 1; there was a statistically significant difference compared with the model group (P<0.05).ConclusionThe protective effect of acupuncture beginning at 3 days after birthon the brain is related to the down-regulation of Cyt-c and Caspase-3 expressions in intrauterine distress-induced HIBD rats.

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 summarize the experience in performing reoperation of valve dysfunction after congenital heart disease procedure.

METHODSFrom 1994 to 2001 we reviewed the data of 13 patients with valve dysfunction after congenital heart disease operation, in which 8 patients after ventricular septal defect, 3 after atrioventricular canal and 2 after respectively tetralogy of Fallot and atrial septal defect were corrected. Before the first operation, 6 patients had presented the mild to moderate mitral regurgitation, 1 had aortic regurgitation. Other 6 patients had valves dysfunction occurring after the first operation, among them, 2 suffered from respectively residual shunt of the ventricular septal defect, 2 had anterior chordae rupture of tricuspid valve, one had an operative injured aortic valve and one had surviving of right ventricular outlet obstruction. Thirteen patients were reoperated, including mitral valve replacement in 6, tricuspid valve replacement in 2, aortic valve replacement in one, aortic valve replacement consists with mitral valve repair and tricuspid valve repair in one and tricuspid valve repair in 3. Concomitant procedures were performed.

RESULTSLow cardiac output occurred in 3 cases and there were 2 early deaths, due to cerebral air-embolism, respiratory and circulatory failure respectively. Other 11 cases discharged and were followed up well.

CONCLUSIONSIt is important to safeguard and repair the valvular construction and function during the operation in congenital heart disease. Reoperation should be performed timely for obtaining recurrent and a good results.

Adult ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; surgery ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo construct the siRNA eukaryotic expression vectors targeting on TGFβ1, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 and to investigate the inhibitory efficiency of target genes expression on rat hepatic stellate cell in vitro.

METHODSThe siRNA cDNA sequences of TGFβ1, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were designed, synthesized and inserted into plasmid pGenesil-1 respectively to generate eukaryotic expression plasmids. The plasmids were transfected into HSC T6 cells in vitro and the inhibitory efficiency of target genes expression was observed with real-time PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSThe eukaryotic expression vectors were constructed successfully. The expressions of TGFβ1 mRNA, TIMP-1 mRNA and TIMP-2mRNA in siRNA-transfected groups were decreased by 63.4% ± 8.0%, 64.5% ± 9.0% and 55.0% ± 17.0% respectively and the expressions of TGFβ1 protein, TIMP-1 protein and TIMP-2 protein were decreased by 57.8% ± 3.0%, 55.1% ± 5.0%, 49.3% ± 1.0% respectively as compared to the control groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe siRNA eukaryotic expression vectors constructed targeting on TGFβ1, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 could reduce the expressions of target genes and they might be able to used for the exploration of new anti-fibrosis drugs genetically.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Rats ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; genetics ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 ; genetics ; Transfection ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics