OBJECTIVETo assess the therapeutic effect and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) at Zhigou (TE 6) on constipation induced by stagnation or deficiency of qi.

METHODSMulti-central randomized controlled trials were adopted and the patients conforming to the criteria for diagnosis, enrolling and excluding were divided into an observation group and a control group according to random number table. The observation group were treated with EA at Zhigou (TE 6) and the control group with EA at non-acupoint for 4 weeks. The cumulative score of clinical symptoms, colon transmission test and various safety indexes were assessed. The following-up was carried out 1 and 3 months after the end of treatment.

RESULTSEA at Zhigou (TE 6) could obviously improve clinical symptoms and colon transmission time, decrease using rate of Kaisailu and cathartics, with an effective rate of 94.4%, which was better than 61.3% in the control group (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONEA at Zhigou (TE 6) has a function of regulating qi and relaxing the bowels and it is an effective method for treatment of constipation with safety and no adverse effect.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Constipation ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Qi

Animals ; Animals, Wild ; microbiology ; Genes, rRNA ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; genetics ; Rats ; Rickettsia ; classification ; genetics ; Rickettsia Infections ; microbiology ; veterinary

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of intracoronary diltiazem on no-reflow phenomenon of infarct-related artery (IRA) after emergent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or/and intracoronary stenting (PTCA/Stenting) in the patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: We studied 34 AMI patients with no-reflow phenomenon of IRA after emergent PTCA/Stenting between January 1999 and August 2005. Urokinase-treated group (n=16) was given intracoronary urokinase 30,0000 - 50,0000 units within 15 - 30 minutes between January 1999 and April 2002 while diltiazem-treated group (n=18) was given intracoronary diltiazem 0.5 - 2 mg within 10 - 30 minutes between May 2002 and August 2005. Fifteen minutes later, coronary arteriography (CAG) was performed and the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade was measured. RESULTS: No apparent change of TIMI flow grade was found between pre-administration and post-administration of intracoronary urokinase, but TIMI flow grade was significantly improved after intracoronary diltiazem (P<0.01). TIMI flow grade of diltiazem-treated group was significantly higher than that of urokinase-treated group after the administration (P<0.05). The percentage of the patients who reached TIMI flow grade 3 after the intracoronary administration was higher in the diltiazem-treated group than that in the urokinase-treated group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION The intracoronary administration of diltiazem 0.5~2mg can effectively improve the no-reflow phenomenon after emergent PTCA/Stenting in patients with AMI.
Adult ; Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Diltiazem ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; therapy ; No-Reflow Phenomenon ; drug therapy ; Stents ; Treatment Outcome

The effects of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide ( CTAB) , ascorbic acid, NaBH4 and AgNO3 , as well as the stirring time and reaction time on the preparation of gold nanorods synthesized with seedless growth method were studied. The optimum preparation conditions were obtained in the process of growth of gold nanorods. The gold nanorods prepared under different conditions were characterized by visible absorption spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy ( TEM ) . Under the optimum conditions such as room temperature, 0. 1 mol/L CTAB, 96 μmol/L AgNO3 , 0. 97 mmol/L ascorbic acid, 1. 5 μmol/L NaBH4 and stirring for 25 s, micro-sized gold nanorods with uniform morphology, good dispersibility, small shaft width and high aspect ratio were prepared within 6 h. The gold nanorods were expected to be applied to the detection of mercury ion in water environment.

A retrospective study was performed to explore the relationship between molecular subtypes and clinicopathological features of breast cancer in Chinese women. Six hundred and twenty-eight Chinese women with breast cancer were classified into four molecular subtypes according to their estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and Her-2 status. The prevalence rate of each molecular subtype was analyzed. Relationship between the subtypes and clinicopathologic features was determined. The distribution of molecular subtypes was as follows: luminal A 46.5%, luminal B 17.0%, basal 21.5%, HER2/neu 15.0%. The subtypes had no significant difference under different menopausal status. However, in the age-specific groups, the age group of ≤35 years was more likely to get basal cell-like cancer (36.9%). Statistically significant differences were found among molecular subtypes by age, nuclear grade, tumor size, lymph node (LN) metastasis, tumor stage by American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC), radiotherapy but not by chemotherapy, types of surgery. After adjusting for several relative confounding factors, the basal subtype more likely had lower nodal involvement in both the incidence of LN metastasis (≥1 positive LN) and incidence of high-volume LN metastasis (≥4 positive LN). The HER2/neu subtype had higher nodal involvement in the incidence of high-volume LN metastases. After adjusting for relative confounding factors, the HER2/neu subtype more likely had higher AJCC tumor stages. It was suggested that there existed close relationship between molecular subtypes and clinicopathological features of breast cancer. In addition, the breast cancer subtypes have been proven to be an independent predictor of LN involvement and AJCC tumor stage. These findings are very important for understanding the occurrence, development, prognosis and treatment of breast cancer in Chinese population.
Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Breast Neoplasms ; classification ; epidemiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques ; statistics & numerical data ; Prevalence ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; metabolism ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism ; Receptors, Progesterone ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDCartilage repair is a challenging research area because of the limited healing capacity of adult articular cartilage. We had previously developed a natural, human cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM)-derived scaffold for in vivo cartilage tissue engineering in nude mice. However, before these scaffolds can be used in clinical applications in vivo, the in vitro effects should be further explored.

METHODSWe produced cartilage in vitro using a natural cartilage ECM-derived scaffold. The scaffolds were fabricated by combining a decellularization procedure with a freeze-drying technique and were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), histological staining, cytotoxicity assay, biochemical and biomechanical analysis. After being chondrogenically induced, the induction results of BMSCs were analyzed by histology and Immunohisto-chemistry. The attachment and viability assessment of the cells on scaffolds were analyzed using SEM and LIVE/DEAD staining. Cell-scaffold constructs cultured in vitro for 1 week and 3 weeks were analyzed using histological and immunohistochemical methods.

RESULTSSEM and micro-CT revealed a 3-D interconnected porous structure. The majority of the cartilage ECM was found in the scaffold following the removal of cellular debris, and stained positive for safranin O and collagen II. Viability staining indicated no cytotoxic effects of the scaffold. Biochemical analysis showed that collagen content was (708.2-44.7) µg/mg, with GAG (254.7 ± 25.9) µg/mg. Mechanical testing showed the compression moduli (E) were (1.226 ± 0.288) and (0.052 ± 0.007) MPa in dry and wet conditions, respectively. Isolated canine bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) were induced down a chondrogenic pathway, labeled with PKH26, and seeded onto the scaffold. Immunofluorescent staining of the cell-scaffold constructs indicated that chondrocyte-like cells were derived from seeded BMSCs and excreted ECM. The cell-scaffold constructs contained pink, smooth and translucent cartilage-like tissue after 3 weeks of culture. We observed evenly distributed cartilage ECM proteoglycans and collagen type II around seeded BMSCs on the surface and inside the pores throughout the scaffold.

CONCLUSIONThis study suggests that a cartilage ECM scaffold holds much promise for in vitro cartilage tissue engineering.

Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Cartilage ; cytology ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Dogs ; Extracellular Matrix ; physiology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds

BACKGROUNDOsteochondral lesion repair is a challenging area of orthopedic surgery. Here we aimed to develop an extracellular matrix-derived, integrated, biphasic scaffold and to investigate the regeneration potential of the scaffold loaded with chondrogenically-induced bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in the repair of a large, high-load-bearing, osteochondral defect in a canine model.

METHODSThe biphasic scaffolds were fabricated by combining a decellularization procedure with a freeze-drying technique and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Osteochondral constructs were fabricated in vitro using chondrogenically-induced BMSCs and a biphasic scaffold, then assessed by SEM for cell attachment. Osteochondral defects (4.2 mm (diameter) × 6 mm (depth)) were created in canine femoral condyles and treated with a construct of the biphasic scaffold/chondrogenically-induced BMSCs or with a cell-free scaffold (control group). The repaired defects were evaluated for gross morphology and by histological, biochemical, biomechanical and micro-CT analyses at 3 and 6 months post-implantation.

RESULTSThe osteochondral defects of the experimental group showed better repair than those of the control group. Statistical analysis demonstrated that the macroscopic and histologic grading scores of the experimental group were always higher than those of the control group, and that the scores for the experimental group at 6 months were significantly higher than those at 3 months. The cartilage stiffness in the experimental group (6 months) was (6.95 ± 0.79) N/mm, 70.77% of normal cartilage; osteochondral bone stiffness in the experimental group was (158.16± 24.30) N/mm, 74.95% of normal tissue; glycosaminoglycan content of tissue-engineered neocartilage was (218 ± 21.6) µg/mg (dry weight), 84.82% of native cartilage. Micro-CT analysis of the subchondral bone showed mature trabecular bone regularly formed at 3 and 6 months, with no significant difference between the experimental and control groups.

CONCLUSIONThe extracellular matrix-derived, integrated, biphasic scaffold shows potential for the repair of large, high-load-bearing osteochondral defects.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Bone Regeneration ; physiology ; Cartilage, Articular ; surgery ; Dogs ; Extracellular Matrix ; chemistry ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds ; chemistry ; X-Ray Microtomography

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of dihydromyricetin (DHM) on cardiac insufficiency in diabetic rats and explore the underlying mechanism. METHOD: Twenty-four male SD rats were randomized equally into normal control group, type 2 diabetes (T2DM) group fed on a high-glucose and high-fat diet for 6 weeks with low-dose streptozotocin (STZ) injection, metformin (MET) group with daily intragastric administration of MET (150 mg/kg) for 8 weeks after T2DM modeling, and dihydromyricetin (DHM) group with daily intragastric administration of DHM (250 mg/kg) for 8 weeks after modeling. The levels of fasting blood glucose, low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) of the rats were measured, and plasma levels of insulin and high mobility group protein-1 (HMGB1) were detected with ELISA. The cardiac function of the rats was assessed using color echocardiography, ECG was measured using a biological signal acquisition system, and myocardial pathology was observed with HE staining. The protein expressions of HMGB1, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 and phospho-NF-κB p65 (p-NF-κB p65) in the myocardial tissue were detected using Western blotting. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the rats in T2DM group showed significant anomalies in cardiac function after modeling with significantly increased plasma HMGB1 level and expressions of HMGB1, NF-κB p65 and p-NF-κB p65 proteins in the myocardial tissue (P < 0.05 or 0.01). Treatment with DHM significantly improved the indexes of cardiac function of the diabetic rats (P < 0.05 or 0.01), decreased plasma HMGB1 level and down-regulated the protein expressions of HMGB1 and p-NF-κB p65 in the myocardial tissue (P < 0.05 or 0.01). CONCLUSION DHM treatment can improve cardiac function in diabetic rats possibly by down-regulation of HMGB1 and phospho-NF-κB p65 expressions in the myocardium.
Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/metabolism* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/metabolism* ; Flavonols ; HMGB1 Protein ; Heart Failure ; Male ; Metformin/therapeutic use* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the current status of antibiotic use for very and extremely low birth weight (VLBW/ELBW) infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) of Hunan Province. METHODS: The use of antibiotics was investigated in multiple level 3 NICUs of Hunan Province for VLBW and ELBW infants born between January, 2017 and December, 2017. RESULTS: The clinical data of 1 442 VLBW/ELBW infants were collected from 24 NICUs in 2017. The median antibiotic use duration was 17 days (range: 0-86 days), accounting for 53.0% of the total length of hospital stay. The highest duration of antibiotic use was up to 91.4% of the total length of hospital stay, with the lowest at 14.6%. In 16 out of 24 NICUs, the antibiotic use duration was accounted for more than 50.0% of the hospitalization days. There were 113 cases with positive bacterial culture grown in blood or cerebrospinal fluid, making the positive rate of overall bacterial culture as 7.84%. The positive rate of bacterial culture in different NICUs was significantly different from 0% to 14.9%. The common isolated bacterial pathogens Klebsiella pneumoniae was 29 cases (25.7%); Escherichia coli 12 cases (10.6%); Staphylococcus aureus 3 cases (2.7%). The most commonly used antibiotics were third-generation of cephalosporins, accounting for 41.00% of the total antibiotics, followed by penicillins, accounting for 32.10%, and followed by carbapenems, accounting for 13.15%. The proportion of antibiotic use time was negatively correlated with birth weight Z-score and the change in weight Z-score between birth and hospital discharge (r=-0.095, -0.151 respectively, P<0.01), positively correlated with death/withdrawal of care (r=0.196, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Antibiotics used for VLBW/ELBW infants in NICUs of Hunan Province are obviously prolonged in many NICUs. The proportion of routine use of third-generation of cephalosporins and carbapenems antibiotics is high among the NICUs.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Birth Weight ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Surveys and Questionnaires

In this study, we sought to determine the association between environmental factors and nonsyndromic cleft of the lip and/or palate (NSCLP) to understand the etiology of the disease. A total of 200 NSCLP cases and 327 controls were recruited at the Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Xuzhou City. We conducted face-to-face interviews with the mothers of both cases and controls. The factors increasing the risk of NSCLP were a positive family history [odds ratio (OR)=56.74], pesticide exposure (OR=8.90), and indoor decoration pollution (OR=4.32). On the other hand, the factors decreasing the risk of NSCLP were a high education level (OR=0.22) and supplementation of folic acid (OR=0.23) and multivitamins (OR=0.16). Positive family history, pesticide exposure, and indoor decoration pollution are associated with the risk of NSCLP. In contrast, high education level and folic acid and multivitamin supplementation are protective factors against NSCLP.
Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Cleft Lip ; epidemiology ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Cleft Palate ; epidemiology ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Environmental Pollutants ; toxicity ; Female ; Folic Acid ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Logistic Models ; Maternal Exposure ; adverse effects ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires