OBJECTIVETo compare differences of therapeutic effect between acupuncture method of tonifying-qi and dredging-meridian and conventional acupuncture method.

METHODSSeventy cases of blepharospasm were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 35 cases in each one. Cuanzhu (BL 2), Yuwei (Extra) through Yuyao (EX-HN 4), Xinming 1 (Extra), Sibai (ST 2) and Yintang (GV 29) were selected as main acupoints. The acupuncture method of tonifying-qi and dredging-meridian was applied in the observation group, which was an acupuncture manipulation that could achieve strong needling sensation of qi arrival combined with electric-impulse stimulation. The conventional acupuncture method was applied in the control group. The treatment was given once every other day, 10 times as a session for continuous three sessions in both groups. The severity of blepharospasm was compared before and after treatment in two groups and clinical therapeutic effect was assessed. Follow-up visit was performed after half a year to observe the recurrence rate.

RESULTSThe cured and markedly effective rate was 77.1% (27/35) in the observation group, which was superior to 51.4% (18/35) in the control group (P < 0.05). Among cured and markedly effective patients in both groups, the recurrence rate was 20.0% (4/20) in the observation group, which was inferior to 54.5% (6/11) in the control group (P < 0.05) in the follow-up visit.

CONCLUSIONThe acupuncture method of tonifying-qi and dredging-meridian could effectively improve severity of blepharospasm, which has superior short-term and long-term effects to conventional acupuncture method.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Blepharospasm ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Qi ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To evaluate the surgical treatment and CT diagnosis of retroperitoneal paraganglioma.Methods Clinical data,CT image and surgical treatment of 17 cases diagnosed as retroperitoneal paraganglioma were analyzed retrospectively.Results In CT scan,tumors were singular and located around the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava in 13 cases,while in the other 4 cases tumors were located in the lower abdomen and pelvic cavity.The masses were oval shaped,varied in size and the margins were clear.Most mass had integral capsule.The density were uneven and the low density area didn't have enhancement in contrast enhancement CT.All of the 17 patients received complete tumor resection in which 13 cases were pathologically diagnosed as benign,4 cases was boundary or low malignant and 3 cases received second operation for recurrence.Conclusion CT is helpful in diagnosis and locating retroperitoneal paraganglioma.Surgical resection is effective and satisfactory.

Objective To study the assessment value of serum protein C activity ( PC∶A) test in the patient′s condition and prognosis in bronchial asthma.Methods 202 bronchial asthma patients were selected from the Tianjin medical university general hospital from 2010 to 2012 for this retrospective cohort study, 77 males and 125 females with a mean age of 41.2 ±11.4 years.the level of PC∶A were analysed by IL ACL TOP 700 coagulation analyzer.Receiver operating characteristic curve ( ROC) was used to analyze the diagnosis performance of PC∶A, χ2 test was used to analyze the relevance between PC∶A and clinical pathological factors , Cox regression analysis model was used to evaluate the effect on prognosis , Kaplan-Meier curve to implement survival analysis.Results The elevels of PC∶A were:control group ( 102.2 ± 13.6)%, intermittent attack group (104.8 ±11.9)%, mild persistent group (136.3 ±15.8)%, moderate persistent group ( 129.0 ±13.5 )% and severe persistent ( 126.8 ±14.7 )% respectively , and there was significantly difference among the all groups ( F =7.15, P <0.01 ).Compared the control group and intermittent attack group with other groups , the PC∶A level was higher in mild persistent group ( q=16.83, q=15.54, P<0.05), moderate persistent group (q=19.94,q=12.15, P<0.05), and severe persistent group(q=11.37,q=10.66, P<0.05).The PC∶A level was lower in moderate and severe persistent group than mild persistent group ( q =3.82, q =4.30, P <0.05 ).After undergoing regular treatment for six months, the PC∶A level was higher in partly controlled group and uncontrolled group than complete controlled group (q=12.45, q=9.91,P<0.05).The optimum cut-off point of PC∶A (after undergoing regular treatment for six months ) for asthma condition with uncontrolled was 118.0%, the area under ROC curve was 0.892 ( 95% confidence interval:0.851-0.936 ).The χ2 test results showed that there was the relevance between the serum PC∶A level and the eosinocyte , total serum IgE , complicated allergic rhinitis and lung function ( FEV1%) ( P<0.01 ).The Cox analysis and survival analysis showed that the serum PC∶A level ( after undergoing regular treatment for six months ) was the independent assessment parameter for asthma acute attack in 7th-12th month, the cumulative probability of acute attack was increased obviously in the patients who with PC∶A level over the cut-off value.Conclusions The serum PC∶A level was increased obviously in asthma patients , and was related to patient′s condition, level of asthma control and severe attacks risk , which could be used as an effective indicator for assessment of disease progression and asthma control in asthma patients.

Adult ; Burns ; etiology ; mortality ; China ; epidemiology ; Coal Mining ; Explosions ; Female ; Gases ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of ginsenoside Rb1 on GSKbeta/IDE signal transduction pathway and Abeta protein secretion in hippocampal neurons of high glucose-treated rats.

METHODHippocampal neurons of 24 h-old newly born SD rats were primarily cultured, inoculated in culture medium under different conditions, and then divided into the normal group, the high glucose group, the LiCl group and the Rb1 group. After being cultured for 72 h, the expressions of their phosphorylated GSK3beta, total GSK3beta and IDE protein were detected by Western blotting analysis. The mRNA expressions of GSK3beta and IDE were determined by RT-PCR. The ELISA assay was used to detect the secretion of Abeta protein in cell supernatant.

RESULTCompared with the normal group, the high glucose group showed increase in the p/tGSK3beta protein ratio and the secretion of Abeta protein and decrease in IDE protein and mRNA (P < 0.05). Compared with the high glucose group, both Rb1 and LiCl groups showed decrease in the p/tGSK3beta protein ratio and the expression of Abeta protein and increase in IDE protein and mRNA expression (P < 0.05). Compared with the LiCl group, the Rb1 group showed no significant difference in the expressions of p/tGSK3beta protein, IDE protein, mRNA and Abeta protein expression. In addition, the GSK3beta mRNA expression of the four groups had no significant difference.

CONCLUSIONGinsenoside Rb1 may reduce the secretion of Abeta protein in hippocampal neurons by reducing the phosphorylation of GSK3beta, down-regulating the ratio of pGSK3beta/GSK3beta and upregulating the expression of IDE.

Amyloid beta-Peptides ; genetics ; metabolism ; secretion ; Animals ; Dietary Carbohydrates ; adverse effects ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Glucose ; adverse effects ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; Insulin ; metabolism ; Insulysin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; secretion ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

Adolescent ; Adult ; Burns, Inhalation ; etiology ; therapy ; Explosions ; Female ; Gases ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Objective:Analyze the influence of hematopoietic stem cell mobilization on circulating endothelial cells (CECs) and circulating endothelial precursors (CEPs).Methods:CECs and CEPs were enumerated in 68 tumor patients and 15 healthy controls by 3-color flow cytometry. 11 cases underwent PBSC (peripheral blood stem cell) mobilization by combination chemotherapy and G-CSF (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor).Results:CECs and CEPs in tumor patients were 0.378%?0.103% and 0.059%?0.013% respectively,which were higher than that of normal controls.CECs/CEPs in peripheral blood (PB) were increased after G-CSF mobilization.Conclusion:Hematopoietic and endothelial progenitors can be mobilized into the PB by treatment with growth factor G-CSF.

Objective:To observe ability of DC vaccine transfected with tumor cell total RNA to induce specific antitumor immunity in lung cancer patients in vitro.Methods:DCs were generated from lung cancer patients' peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC).Total RNA was isolated from lung cancer tumor cell line Calu-6 by Trizol.Autologous DCs transfected with Calu-6 total RNA by liposome were used to induce specific CTL proliferation.Specific cytotoxicity and IFN-? secretion were measured by LDH assay and ELISA method.Results:Transfected DCs exhibited dramatically increased expression of specific membrane markers and function-associated molecules,and were more potent in stimulating allogenous or autologous T cell proliferation than that of control DCs.Specific CTLs induced by transfected DCs showed higher cytotoxicity than LAK against Calu-6 antigens positive target cells.When sensitized lymphocytes were restimulated by transfected DCs again,IFN-? secretion enhanced significantly.Conclusion:Lung cancer patient's autologous DCs transfected with tumor total RNA are effective vaccines in stimulating specific antitumor T-cell immunity in vitro.

Objective To investigate the effects of genistein(GEN) on the expression of collagen I and transforming growth factor-?1(TGF-?1 ) of osteoblast.Method The secondary generation of skull osteoblast of newborn SD rat was incubated with GEN.The cells were divided into six groups:control group,different dose of GEN(10-8,10-7,10-6,10-5mol/L,respectively) groups and E2 group( 10-10mol/L).MTT(OD),the contents of cell protein,the activity of alkaline phosphatase(ALP),the expression of collagen I and the content of TGF-?1 were detected.Results After 48h and 72h,the MTT(OD) of all GEN group and E2 group were significantly higher than those in control group.The MTT(OD) of control group and 10-8,10-7,10-6mol/L GEN groups in 72h were significantly higher than those in 48 h.The protein of 10-5,10-6 mol/L GEN group and E2 group were significantly higher than those in control group.The ALP activity of all GEN groups and E2 group were significantly higher than those in control group.The level of above indices were correlated with the dose of GEN.The expression of collagen I and the content of TGF-?1 in 10-7,10-6,10-5mol/L GEN group and E2 groups were higher than those in control group.They werecorrelated with the dose of GEN and TGF-?1.Conclusion GEN could stimulate proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast,and enhance the expression of collagen I and content of TGF?-1.Compared with E2,,there were similar effects with the higher dosage of GEN.

Objective To determine the effect of suppressing TrkA expression on pancreatic cancer chemosensitivity to gemcitabine and further disclose the role of PI3K/Akt signal transduction pathway in pancreatic cancer chemoresistance. Methods Human pancreatic cancer cell lines PANC-1, MIA-PaCa-2 and ASPC-1 were studied. The expression and kinase activity of TrkA were determined by Western blot analysis and in vitro kinase assay, respectively. RNA interference was used to suppress TrkA expression. Gemcitabine-induced cytotoxicity was determined by tetrazolium reduction assay and caspase profiling was performed. The effect of TrkA-specific siRNA on PI3K/Akt activity was also quantified. Results TrkA expression and kinase activity in cell lines were directly correlated with gemcitabine chemoresistance. TrkA-specific siRNA suppressed TrkA expression and kinase activity, and furthermore increased gemcitabine-induced, caspase-mediated apoptosis. PI3K/Akt activity was decreased by suppression of TrkA expression. Conclusion TrkA is a determinant of pancreatic adenocarcinoma chemoresistance and PI3K/Akt is a key signaling component by which NGF activation of the TrkA signal transduction pathway protects pancreatic cancer cells from chemotherapy-induced cell death.