ObjectiveTo study tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand(TRAIL) 1525 locus polymorphism in patients with nodular thyroid disease and investigate the relation between individual gene polymorphism and thyroid diseases.Methods A total of 125 patients were diagnosed with nodular thyroid disease at the Department of Endocrinology,the First Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical College.Among these patients,67 cases were nodular thyroid goiter and 58 cases were nodular thyroid adenoma,54 males,71 females,and average age was 41.05 ± 14.42. Patients with nodular thyroid goiter were grouped into toxic and non-toxic and thyroid adenoma were grouped into high-functioning or non-high-functioning.A total of 100 healthy subjects.47 males,53 females,average age 42.35 ± 16.52 were as control group.According to the principle of informed consent,venous blood was collected,polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method for TRAIL gene 1525 locus polymorphism determination was performed to calculate genotype of the TRAIL gene (homozygous GG,heterozygous GA,mutationhomozygous AA) and the gene frequency (G,A),and relative degree of risk(odd ratio,OR) was compared.ResultsNodular goiter group TRAIL gene 1525 locus genotype frequencies(GG:40.3％,AG:44.8％,AA:14.9％),allele frequencies(G:62.7％,A:37.3％) were compared with that of the control group(GG:17.0％,AG:65.0％,AA:18.0％; G:49.5％,A:50.5％),the differences were statistically significant(x2 =11.376,5.633,P ＜ 0.01 or ＜ 0.05 ).Adenomas group 1525 locus genotype frequencies of the TRAIL gene(GG:44.8％,AG:38.0％,AA:17.2％),allele frequencies(G:63.8％,A:36.2％) were compared with that of the control group,the differences were statistically significant(x2 =15.342,6.054,P ＜ 0.01 or ＜ 0.05).Allele frequencies of thyroid goiter group and denoma group were compared with that of the control group,OR values were 1.714 and 1.797(all P ＜ 0.05) and 95％ confidence intervals were 1.097 - 2.679 and 1.124 - 2.874.The difference of 1525 locus genotype or allele frequency distribution in toxic and non-toxic nodular group,high functioning and non-high-functioning adenomas group were not statistically significant (x2 =3.714,2.792; 1.103,2.020; all P ＞ 0.05).ConclusionTRAIL gene 1525 locus polymorphism is significantly associated with nodular thyroid disease.

OBJECTIVETo explore the possibility of the infrared objective displaying of heat-sensitive state of acupoint.

METHODSFifty-four qualified subjects were enrolled. In the natural state, thermal tomography (TTM) was adopted to shoot the thermograms on the face. After the thermograms collection, the thermo-sensitive detection with moxibustion was applied. The suspending moxibustion with moxa stick was used at Xiaguan (ST 7, affected side) for 10 mm. The cases with heat extension and transmission at the acupoint were recorded at the end of moxibustion. In following, the second infrared radiation detection was done so as to record the changes in the infrared images on the face before and after moxibustion and compare the difference in the heat-sensitive state at Xiaguan (ST 7, affected side) in the subjects between two detection methods.

RESULTSBefore moxibustion, the infrared radiation intensity at Xiaguan (ST 7, affected side) in the patients displayed mostly low temperature feature and its sensibility (true positive rate) was 65.6%, the specificity (true negative rate) was 68.2% and the accuracy was 66.7%. After moxibustion at Xiaguan (ST 7, affected side), there was an obvious block-diffused increment area of infrared radation along the cheek and its sensitivity (true positive rate) was 81.8%, the specificity (true negative rate) was 81.0% and the accuracy was 81.5% as compared with the moxibustion detection.

CONCLUSION(1) The heat-sensitive state at Xiaguan (ST 7, affected side) in the patients of primary trigeminal neuralgia can be objectively displayed by infrared imaging to a certain extent. (2) The acupoint heat-sensitization produced by moxibustion is not only the subjective sensation of the subjects, but also can be objectively displayed by infrared imaging to a certain extent.

Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Face ; radiation effects ; Female ; Humans ; Infrared Rays ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Thermography ; Trigeminal Neuralgia ; therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the distribution characteristics of heat-sensitized acupoints in the high incidence region of heat sensitization on the body surface of the patients with trigeminal neuralgia.

METHODSSixty cases of trigeminal neuralgia were collected and 60 healthy subjects were in the control. With moxibustion sensitization method to detect the heat-sensitized acupoints, the probability of the heat-sensitized acupoints in the high incidence region of heat sensitization on the body surface was analyzed and the correlation between the heat-sensitized acupoints and trigeminal neuralgia was discussed.

RESULTS(1) The occurrence rate of the heat-sensitized acupoints in the high incidence region of heat sensitization in patients with trigeminal neuralgia was 83.3% (50/60). (2) The occurrence rate of the heat-sensitized acupoints was high in the site of Xiaguan (ST 7) and Sibai (ST 2), and was secondarily high in the site of Jiachengjiang (Extra), Fengchi (GB 20) and Yuyao (EX-HN 4) in the high incidence region of heat sensitization in patients with trigeminal neuralgia.

CONCLUSIONThe heat-sensitized acupoints are highly correlative with trigeminal neuralgia, which provides the evidence for the further study on prevention and treatment of trigeminal neuralgia with heat-sensitive moxibustion.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Trigeminal Neuralgia ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy of oral sweet solutions in relieving pain caused by vaccination in infants aged 1 to 12 months.

METHODSRelated databases were searched to find related randomized control trails (RCTs). The quality of these RCTs was evaluated. The Meta analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3.

RESULTSA total of 20 RCTs involving 2 376 infants were included, and quality assessment showed that 6 RCTs had grade A quality and 14 had grade B quality. The Meta analysis showed that compared with sterile water, 25%-75% oral sweet solution significantly reduced crying time (WMD=-21.16, 95%CI -39.66 to -2.77, P<0.05) and the proportion of crying time (the duration of crying /3-minute periods after the injection) (WMD=-13.83, 95%CI -20.88 to -6.78, P<0.01), while the crying time showed no significant difference between the group treated with oral administration of 12% sucrose solution and non-intervention group. Co

ONCLUSIONSOral sweet solution (25%-75%; 2 mL) given 2 minutes before vaccination can effectively relieve the pain caused by vaccination in infants aged 1-12 months.

Crying ; Humans ; Infant ; Pain ; prevention & control ; Solutions ; Sucrose ; administration & dosage ; Vaccination ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in clinical efficacy on lumber disc herniation (LDH) treated with Yaoyangguan (GV 3) between mild moxibustion under thermosensitive condition and that under non-thermo-sensitive condition.

METHODSFifty-seven LDH patients were selected as the study objects. Mild moxibustion at Yaoyangguan (GV 3) was applied for 45 min each time. Additionally, the conventional acupuncture was given, once a day, for 20 days. At the end of treatment, two groups were classified. A thermosensitive acupoint group (thermosensitive group) was composed of the cases with thermo-sensitization at Yaoyangguan (GV 3) and presenting for > or =4 times in the entire treatment. A non-thermosensitive acupoint group (tranquilization group) was composed of the cases without thermo-sensitization or the frequency of thermo-sensitization <4 times in the entire treatment. The modified Japanese orthopedics association scoring system (M-JOA) was adopted to observe the cases before and after treatment and 6 months after treatment in the two groups. The efficacy was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment and in 6 months after treatment, the score of M-JOA was apparently reduced as compared with that before treatment in the two groups (all P<0.05). The score reducing in the thermosensitization group was more obvious than that in the tranquilization group (both P<0.01). After treatment and in 6 months after treatment, the curative rate and remarkably effective rate were 89.7% (26/29) and 79.3% (23/29), which was better than 71.4% (20/28) and 60.7% (17/28, both P<0.05) in the tranquilization group separately.

CONCLUSIONMild moxibustion at acupoint under thermosensitive condition achieves the better short-term and long-term effects as compared with that under non-thermosensitive condition.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Treatment Outcome

Based on traditional acupuncture-moxibustion treatment ideas, with differentiation of channels and collaterals as main part and feature, the important role of associated symptom and sign-based acupoint selection in acupuncture-moxibustion treatment is explained from angles of philosophy and medicine. Combined with clinical experience of acupuncture and moxibustion, the category of associated symptom and sign-based acupoint selection is explained in detail to make sure the accuracy of acupuncture-moxibustion differentiation. It could show uniqueness and advantage of theory and clinic in acupuncture-moxibustion and provide theoretical references in making acupuncture-moxibustion prescription to improve effectiveness of clinical treatment.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Moxibustion

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between BRAF mutation and clinicopathological features in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

METHODSFresh samples were examined for the presence of BRAF mutations in 43 patients with PTC and 20 patients with non-PTC thyroid disease and 40 normal thyroid tissues by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing. The relationship between BRAF mutation and clinicopathological features was studied.

RESULTSBRAF mutation was detected in 39.5% (17/43) of PTC samples, in 0 of non-PTC thyroid disease samples and normal thyroid tissues. Significant association was seen between BRAF mutation and both extrathyroidal invasion and cervical lymph node metastasis (P<0.05, P<0.05). There was no significant relationship between BRAF mutation and gender, age at the time of diagnosis, tumor size and distant metastasis.

CONCLUSIONBRAF mutation is associated with extrathyroidal invasion and lymph node metastasis. It may increase the ability of invasion and metastasis of PTC and have influence on prognosis.

Adenocarcinoma, Papillary ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; diagnosis ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf ; genetics ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protein expression of caveolin-1 in type II alveolar epithelial cells (A549) exposed to carbon black nanoparticles (CB NPs) and the role of caveolin in the endocytosis of CB NPs.

METHODSA549 cells were exposed to 0, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 µg/ml CB NPs for 24 h; then, trypan blue assay was applied to determine the cell viability. A549 cells were also exposed to 0, 25, 50, and 100 µg/ml CB NPs for 24 h, then, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and flow cytometry were applied to observe the morphological change of cells and cellular side scatter (SSC), and Western blot was used to analyze the effect of CB NPs on the protein expression of caveolin-1. A549 cells were co-exposed to1 µg/ml filipin and 100 µg/ml CB NPs for 24 h, then, the cellular SSC was observed.

RESULTSCompared with controls, the A549 cells exposed to 200 and 400 µg/ml CB NPs had the cell viability decreased by 38.2% and 46.6%, respectively (P < 0.05), while those exposed to 25, 50, and 100 µg/ml CB NPs showed no significant decrease in cell vitality (P > 0.05). The protein expression of caveolin-1 was significantly higher in the cells exposed to 50 and 100 µg/ml CB NPs than in controls (P < 0.05). The TEM showed that plasmalemmal vesicles containing black particles were found in the cytoplasm of the cells exposed to 50 and 100 µg/ml CB NPs. The flow cytometry showed that the cellular SSC ratio increased from 1.007 to 1.331 as the dose of CB NPs rose within 0 ∼ 100 µg/ml and fell to 1.25 after the cells were co-exposed to1 µg/ml filipin and 100 µg/ml CB NPs.

CONCLUSIONCarbon black nanoparticles can be transferred into A549 cells by endocytosis, but caveolin-mediated endocytic pathway plays a minor role in this process.

Caveolin 1 ; physiology ; Cell Line ; Endocytosis ; Humans ; Nanoparticles ; Soot ; pharmacokinetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibitory effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in combination with paclitaxel (PCT) on proliferation in esophageal carcinoma Eca-109 cells line.

METHODSEca-109 cells were treated with PCT alone, HPD alone at different doses, or their combinations. For the combined treatments, the cells were exposed to PCT for 12 h followed by incubation with HPD at high, middle or low concentrations for 4 h. PDT was then performed on these treated cells and fluorescence microscopic observation was made before and after PDT. The cell survival was measured by MTT assay, and the cell apoptosis rate analyzed by flow cytometry after a 24-h cell incubation following PDT.

RESULTSThe fluorescence excitation of the cells was weakened after PDT. Combined treatments resulted in significantly lowered cell survival rate and increased cell apoptosis rates as compared to those of the control cells and the cells treated with PCT alone and low-dose HPD (P<0.01). Significant differences were also noted among the cells exposed to HPD at different concentrations (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONPDT combined with PCT have significant synergetic effects in inhibiting the proliferation of human esophageal carcinoma cells and inducing their apoptosis in vitro.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Humans ; Paclitaxel ; pharmacology ; Photochemotherapy

The column chromatography on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and semi-preparative HPLC were used to separate and purify the compounds from the EtOAc extract of medium and MeOH extract of cell cultures of Morus alba. Eight compounds were isolated. Based on physico-chemical properties and spectroscopic data, their structures were identified as isobavachalcone (1), genistein (2), norartocarpetin (3), albanin A (4), guangsangon E (5), mulberrofuran F (6), chalcomoracin (7), kuwanon J (8). Compounds 3-6 were isolated from the cell cultures of M. alba for the first time.
Benzofurans ; isolation & purification ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Chalcones ; isolation & purification ; Chromatography, Gel ; methods ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dextrans ; Genistein ; isolation & purification ; Morus ; chemistry ; cytology ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; cytology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; cytology ; Silica Gel ; Terpenes ; isolation & purification