Recently a number of acupuncture clinical trial projects mainly conducted by conventional scientists have generated many negative results. A large meta-analysis of patient-level acupuncture data for the treatment of chronic pain conditions have demonstrated that the effects of verum acupuncture on pain improvement have statistically significant, but small, differences compared with sham-acupuncture procedures and no difference between acupuncture points and non-points. These conclusions have puzzled the acupuncture community and made confusion for acupuncture research and practices. The purpose of this paper was to compare differences between acupuncture clinical practices and the trial studies, which include "acupuncture technical principles", "acupuncture clinical trial design", and "acupuncture practice based on the theory of traditional Chinese medicine". These factors contribute to the puzzle between the acupuncture community/practice and acupuncture clinical trials, which can be improved in future studies.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Chronic Disease ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Humans ; Meta-Analysis as Topic ; Pain Management ; methods ; Research Design

AIM　To analyze the effects of endomorphins (EMs) and their analogs (［D-Pro2］EM-1, ［D-Ala2］EM-1, ［D-Pro2］EM-2 and ［D-Ala2］EM-2) on the cardiovascular system of anesthetized rats and to study its mechanism. METHODS　Responses to EMs and their analogs were investigated in the systemic vascular bed of rats and the mesenteric microarteria of Bufo gargarizans. Responses to EMs were investigated on the hindquarters of the rat vascular bed under constant-flow conditions and on the isolated rabbit thoracic aorta strips. RESULTS　The EMs and their analogs showed dose-related (10-9-10-6 mol*L-1, iv) and naloxone-sensitive (2 mg*kg-1, iv) hypotension in mean arterial pressure of rats with similar duration and vasodilatation in mesenteric microarteria of Bufo gargarizans. The sequence of potencies was EMs > ［D-Pro2］EM-2 > ［D-Ala2］EM-2 > ［D-Ala2］EM-1 > ［D-Pro2］EM-1. EMs were shown not to relax the isolated rabbit thoracic aorta strips without endothelium. EMs, however, relaxed them with endothelium significantly. This action was blocked by Nx (10-5 mol*L-1) and L-NNA (10-4 mol*L-1). CONCLUSION　The significant hypotensive activity of EMs and their analogs is mainly associated with their vasodilatation, which is related to the release of NO from vascular endothelium, and their potency is not completely related to their affinity for μ-opiate receptor.

Endomorphins(EMs),two tetrapeptides, were discovered in 1997 and believed to be endogenous ligands of μ-opioide receptor(MOR). They mediated various physiological processes by binding to MOR that couple with G-proteins. Based on our works and literatures, we reviewed the distribution in nerve system, receptor binding properties, analgesis, effects on ion channels, conformation and struction-activity relationship of EMs.

BACKGROUND:Effective sorting of prostate cancer stem cels is the basis of experimental studies in prostate cancer developing. The most common sorting method is magnetic-activated cel sorting. OBJECTIVE:To separate CD133+/CD44+ cels in prostate cancer tissues using self-designed magnetic beads folowed by culture, passage and immunological identification. METHODS:Self-designed magnetic microspheres were applied to establish immunomagnetic beads to sort CD133+/CD44+ cels in prostate cancer tissues. The sorted cels were cultured in serum-free medium. The sphere formation, cel morphology, and proliferation ability after cel passage were statisticaly compared between the sorted cels and the normal tumor cel lines. Immunofluorescence detection was performed to detect the expression of specific antibodies. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Self-designed immunomagnetic beads had smal diameter and a high-sorting effect. The sorted cels possessed a high capacity of microsphere formation. After cel culture and passage, the cels highly expressed CD133 and CD44 antigens. The sorted cels with no induction had varying shapes and grew vigorously. After induction with transforming growth factor-β, the cultured cels were noted to have a single shape and grow slowly. The cel proliferation ability of sorted cels in these two groups differed significantly from that of the normal cancer cel lines (bothP < 0.05). In conclusion, the CD133+/CD44+ cels sorted from prostate tumor cels possessed cel morphology and function characteristics of stem cels which can provide a basis for extraction and culture of prostate cancer stem cels. Cite this article:Gong R, Li SY, Huo ZX, Ding H, Sun EL. Extraction of prostate cancer stem cels using self-designed magnetic beads. Zhongguo Zuzhi Gongcheng Yanjiu. 2016;20(1):36-41.

Objective To cpmpare the assessment of retinal and choroidal disease using confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (cSLO) imaging and color fundus camera.Methods Sixty-seven patients (90 eyes) with fundus diseases were included in this study.There were 35 males (51 eyes) and 32 female (39 eyes),mean age was 51.32 years.All subjects underwent fundus imaging using cSLO technology and traditional color fundus camera,positive numbers of every retinal pathological change were calculated and compared.Spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) was also done to compare the accordance rate between two modes of fundus imaging (cSLO technology and traditional color fundus camera) and SD-OCT in choroidal changes.Results The positive numbers of retinal microaneurysm (x2 =4.157,P＜ 0.05) and epiretinal membrane (x2 =5.428,P ＜ 0.05) using cSLO fundus imaging were significantly higher than traditional color fundus camera,while the positive numbers of cotton wool spots (x2 =0.523),retinal hemorrhage (x2 =0.117),hard exudates (x2 =0.325) and macular hole (x2 =0.070)were no significant different (P＞ 0.05).The SD-OCT accordance rate of choroidal pathological changes using cSLO technology was higher than traditional color fundus camera (x2 =9.143,P=0.007).Conclusion In retinal and choroidal diseases,the imaging quality of cSLO fundus imaging technology is better than the traditional color fundus camera technology.

Objective To explore the assessment and intervention categorized for patients with permanent colostomy′s continue nursing problem based on the Omaha system. Methods Developing permanent colostomy′s continue nursing problem assessment form in the framework of Omaha system, using this assessment form to evaluate 46 patients′continue nursing problem and choose appropriate interventions. Results A total of 46 patients on the day of discharge had a total of 260 continue nursing problems. There were 5.7 nursing problems averagely for every patient. Incidence of more than 50%of the nursing problems had personal care, role change, mental health, sleep and rest, digestion- hydration and social; potential continue nursing problems was 90. There were 1.97 nursing problems averagely for every patient. The main potential continue nursing problems were two, respectively was colostomy complications and colostomy surrounding skin complications. Continue nursing intervention had a total of 727. There were 15.8 continue nursing interventions averagely for every patient. The most frequent interventions were for physiological and psychosocial domain. Conclusions Omaha Question Classification System can fully assess permanent colostomy′s continue nursing problem andset corresponding nursing intervention strategiesaccording to Omaha intervention system. More attention should be paid to psychosocial and health-related behavior problem. The most frequent interventions were health education, guidance, counseling and monitoring.

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features of adult type pulmonary blastoma (PB).

METHODFour cases of adult type PB were studied with light microscopy and immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSThree cases of PB were biphasic type and were composed of primitive epithelial component and primitive stromal component; one case of PB was epithelial type and was shown as branching glands with clustered and well-differentiated structure. Immunohistochemical studies showed that AE1/AE3 was positive in the epithelial component in four cases, Vimentin was positive in the stromal component in three cases, thyroid transricption factor-1 was positive in two cases, CD117 was positive in one case, Ki-67 was 2% positive in one case, while P53 was negative in all cases.

CONCLUSIONSThe adult type PB is a rarely seen biphasic tumor. It contains a primitive epithelial component and a primitive mesenchymal stroma, which looks like well-differentiated fetal adenocarcinoma. As highly invasive intrathoracic neoplasm, it is mainly found in adult with an unfavorable outcome.

Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Pulmonary Blastoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Vimentin ; metabolism

ObjectiveTo discuss the selection of surgical approach,operative methods,and stability of reconstitution of affection of cervicothoracic junction.MethodsFrom January 2001 to February 2009,86cases with affection of cervicothoracic junction were treated surgically.The mean age of patients at the time of surgery was 43.1 years (range,17-70).Fifty-seven patients were treated with anterior approach (fixation with autologous bone grafts was done in 38 patients,Cage fixation in 5,titanium mesh in 14),21 with posterior approach(the fixation of lateral mass screw combined with pedicle screw was used in 12 patients,fixation with pedicle screw in 9),and 8 with anterior combined posterior approach.The neurological function of 53 cases of injury of cervicothoracic junction was assessed by American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) criteria,and the rest was assessed by Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA) criteria; bone arthrodesis and restoring lordosis of cervical spine were assessed by Bohlman radiographic criteria.ResultsSixty-nine cases were followed up for an average of 12.4 months(range,3-45).ASIA score increased from 1.8 preoperatively to 2.3 postoperatively,and JOA score increased from 10.3 preoperatively to 12.8 postoperatively.Bone fusion reached in all patients,and lordosis of the cervical spine of 62 cases was restored.One case with respiratory dysfunction,1 case with cerebrospinal fluid leakage,2 cases with hoarseness,and 1 case with loose lateral mass screw were found after the surgery.ConclusionThe advantages of surgical reconstitution of the cervicothoracic junction included promoting recovery of neurological function,restoring the alignment and lordosis of the cervical spine,decreasing the rate of complication,which were dependent on the suitable surgical indications,surgical approach,and way of surgical reconstitution.The selection of reconstituted methods depends on disease,lesion site,type and degree of injury,experience of doctor,decompression and spinal stabilization synthetically.

Objective To evaluate the role of M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M3 mAChR) in the release of glycinergic neurotransmitter by using oxotremorine-M (Oxo-M: a nonselective mAChR agonist) and 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methiodide (4-DAMP: a highly selective M3mAChR antagonist). Methods Twenty male 3-4 weeks old SD rats weighing 160-180 g after successful intrathecal catheterization were randomized into 2 groups (n = 10 each): normal saline group (group NS) and pertussis toxin (group PTX).Pertussis toxin 1.5 μg/10 μl was injected IT in group PTX, while in group NS normal saline 10 μl was injected IT instead. The animals were killed at day 7 after injection. The spinal cords were removed and sliced and placed in artificial CSF. Glycinergic spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) were measured in spinal lamina Ⅱneurons using whole-cell voltage-clamp technique. Five minutes after sealing, Oxo-M (final concentration 3 μ mol/L) was added. Oxo-M was then completely washed out 3 min later and 4-DAMP (final concentration 25 nmol/L) was added after 5 min of stabilization. In the presence of 4-DAMP, Oxo-M (final concentration 3 μmol/L) was added again 3 min later. sIPSCs were recorded before addition of Oxo-M (T1), 3 min after addition of Oxo-M (T2), 3 min after addition of 4-DAMP (T3), 3 min after the second addition of Oxo-M (T4). Results Compared with the baseline value at T1 , Oxo-M significantly increased the frequency of glycinergic sIPSCs at T2without changing the amplitude at T2-4 in both groups. The frequency of sIPSCs was significantly lower at T4 than at T2 in both groups (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01). There was no significant difference in both frequency and amplitude of glycinergic sIPSCs between the two groups. Conclusion M3 mAChR plays a predominant role in the release of glycinergic transmitter in the spinal lamina Ⅱ neurons in rats.

OBJECTIVETo study the pathologic features of pulmonary carcinomas with spindle and/or giant cells.

METHODSTwenty cases of pulmonary carcinomas with spindle and/or giant cells were studied by using lightmicroscopy and immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSOf 20 cases, 15 cases were pleomorphic carcinoma (10 cases with adenocarcinoma, 3 cases with large cell carcinoma, 1 case with squamous cell carcinoma and 1 case with giant cell carcinoma) , 4 cases were spindle cell carcinoma, and 1 case was giant cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemical results showed AE1/AE3 was positive in the spindle and/or giant cell component of 19 cases, Vimentin was positive in the spindle and/or giant cell component of 20 cases, P53 was positive in 10 cases and thyoid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) was negtive in all cases.

CONCLUSIONSPulmonary carcinomas with spindle and/or giant cells is definded as a group of poorly differentiated non-small cell carcinoma that contains a component of spindle and/or giant cells. The diagnosis is based on histopathology and immunohistochemical staining of AE1/AE3 and Vimentin.

Adenocarcinoma ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Giant Cells ; pathology ; Humans ; Lung ; pathology ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged