Objective To explore the effect of electroacupuncture intervention on tumor growth and PCNA expression in HepG2 nude mice.Methods Thirty-two nude mice were randomized to electroacupuncture, electrostimulation, model and blank control groups, 8 mice each. A nude mouse model of subcutaneous tumor was made with HepG2. The electroacupuncture group received electroacupuncture at points Zusanli and Sanyinjiao on bilateral lower limbs and the electrostimulation group, direct electrical stimulation of the same points. The tumor volume, the tumor/weight ratio and the tumor growth inhibition rate were observed. PCNA expression in the tumor tissue was determined.Results There was no statistically significant pre-/post-intervention difference in the tumor volume in the electroacupuncture, electrostimulation and model groups (P>0.05). There was no statistically significant post-intervention difference in the tumor volume between the electroacupuncture or electrostimulation group and the model group (P>0.05), but tumor growth tended to slow in the electroacupuncture group. There was no statistically significant pre-/post-intervention difference in the nude mouse weight in every group (P>0.05). There was a statistically significant post-intervention difference in the tumor/weight ratio between the electroacupuncture group and the electrostimulation or model group (P<0.05), but no statistically significant post-intervention difference in the tumor/weight ratio between the electrostimulation and model groups (P>0.05). There was a statistically significantpost-intervention difference in the tumor growth inhibition rate between the electroacupuncture and electrostimulation groups (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant post-intervention difference in the PCNA expression level between the electroacupuncture or electrostimulation group and the model group (P<0.05), no statistically significant post-intervention difference in the PCNA expression level between the electroacupuncture and electrostimulation groups (P>0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture can delay HepG2 tumor growth to a certain extent.

Animals ; Haptoglobins ; metabolism ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; metabolism ; Mesenteric Vascular Occlusion ; blood ; Rabbits ; Serum ; metabolism

Objective:To evaluate the effects of dexamethasone on systemic lupus erythematosus complicated with cognitive dysfunction.Methods:Ten wild type mice and 20 MRL/lpr mice were applied for the research.MRL/lpr mice were randomly assigned to a MRL/lpr group and a MRL/lpr + dexamethasone (1.5 mg/kg) group.Interleukin-6 (IL-6),IL-1β,and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in serum and hippocampus were detected.The protein phosphorylation levels of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (P-PI3K),protein kinase B (P-Akt),NF-kappa-B inhibitor alpha (P-IκBa) and nuclear transcription factor kappa-B p65 (P-NF-κB p65) were detected by Western blot,the level of P-NF-κB p65 also was detected by immunohistochemistry.Results:Treatment with dexamethasone (1.5 mg/kg) alleviated the cognitive dysfunction and decreased the levels of IL-6,IL-1 β and TNF-α in serum and hippocampus,and reduced the levels of P-PI3K,P-Akt,P-IκBa and P-NF-κB p65 in hippocampus in MRL/lpr mice.Conclusion:Dexamethasone may play a protective role in the cognitive function by decreasing the levels of TNF-α and IL-1 β in the hippocampus of MRL/lpr lupus mice.

Objective To improve the national surveillance plan on bacillary dysentery and to increase the sensitivity of the surveillance system on the disease. Methods Data was collected through China Disease Reporting Information System (CDRIS) and National Sentinel Surveillance Sites on bacillary dysentery. Data from the CDRIS was compared with the data from the National Sentinel Surveillance to identify the exiting problems. Results Data from the monitoring sites showed that the detection rate of infant cases of bacillary dysentery infection was 1%,less than that of other age groups. The highest rates were seen in children aged 3 through 9 years. Rate on misdiagnosis in all age group was 23.38%,when using the surveillance case definition of clinical cases and suspect case. The rate of misdiagnosis on infant cases of bacillary dysentery infection by clinical diagnosis was 50%. It showed that Shigella flexneri and Shigella sonnei were dominant with the positive rates as 57.21% and 42.41%,respectively. From the national sentinel surveillance sites,the confirmed cases taking up 43.39% which did not match the figure from the CDRIS. Conclusion The diagnostic criterion for bacillary dysentery fit well on other age groups in surveillance system except on infants. Active surveillance on bacillary dysentery that combining both clinical and laboratory diagnosis seems quite necessary on CDRIS,especially for infants.

Pregnane X receptor (PXR), a member of nuclear receptor superfamily, plays an important role in xenobiotic and endogenous metabolism, endocrine balance, and cell proliferation, etc. Previous study has shown that pregnenolone 16α-carbonitrile (PCN), a mouse PXR agonist, could induce liver enlargement. And we found that the change in hepatocytes exhibits regional distribution characteristics: hepatocyte enlargement occurs around the central vein (CV) area, while hepatocyte proliferation occurs around the portal vein (PV) area. In this study, the dynamic changes of hepatocytes during PXR-induced liver enlargement were determined. Serum and liver samples from male C57BL/6 mice were collected for biochemical and pathological analysis after PCN treatment for 1, 2, 3, 5 days, respectively. The animal experiment was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Sun Yat-Sen University. The results showed that with the increase in the PCN treatment days, the feature of this regional change of hepatocyte around the CV and PV areas became more and more obvious. At the same time, the factors related to hepatocyte enlargement, such as the expression of PXR downstream genes and the hepatic content of triglyceride (TG), has gradually increased. The upregulation of proliferation-related proteins and downregulation of cyclin-dependent kinases inhibitor proteins were observed in the early stage of PCN treatment, suggesting that hepatocyte proliferation occurs earlier than hepatocyte enlargement during PXR-induced liver enlargement. This study reveals the dynamic change of hepatocytes during PXR-induced liver enlargement and provides a new insight in liver enlargement promoted via PXR activation.

OBJECTIVETo understand the pollution rates of vibrio cholera (V. cholera) in different seafood, aquatic products and their circulatory processes, so as to help making measures for cholera control and prevention.

METHODSDifferent seafood, aquatic products and breed water specimen collected from 12 provinces of China were tested from July to September in 2005.

RESULTA total of 12 104 samples of seafood and aquatic products were tested and the average pollution rate of vibrio cholera was 0.52%. The positive isolate rate of turtle sample (1.72%) was the highest among all samples. The second higher isolated rate was 1.14% in water specimen of turtle breed pool. The positive rate of bullfrog was 0.50%. The percentage of toxin strains was 47.54% and 79.31% of them were isolated from turtle and water samples of turtle breed pool. The important sector of the pollution of vibrio cholera was in turtle breed pool (2.38%).

CONCLUSIONThe average pollution rate of vibrio cholera in seafood and aquatic products in 12 provinces of China was low. It should be very necessary to supervise the sanitation in turtle breed for controlling and preventing the vibrio cholera.

Animals ; China ; Female ; Fishes ; microbiology ; Food Contamination ; analysis ; prevention & control ; statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Seafood ; microbiology ; Seawater ; analysis ; Turtles ; microbiology ; Vibrio cholerae ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo explor the changes of serum proteomics in rabbits superior mesenteric artery occlusion (SMAO) shock as well as its possible effect in SMAO shock.

METHODSSMAO shock model in rabbits were induced by occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery, serum samples were obtained from rabbits before and after SMAO shock, proteins in samples were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis(2-DE), spots in the 2-DE map were detected and evaluated by PDQuest software 8.0. The spots with different expression level were subjected to matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-TOF-MS) for identification, the protein database was searched to further characterized the differential proteins.

RESULTS19 differential protein spots were screened out in the 2-DE maps, 11 proteins were up-regulated and 8 proteins were down-regulated in SMAO shock rabbits' s serum. 4 of the 19 differential protein spots were selected for MALDI-TOF-TOF-MS study, and 2 of the 4 differential protein spots were identified satisfactoryly as paraoxonase and haptoglobin, which content were increased in rabbits' s serum after SMAO shock.

CONCLUSIONSerum proteomics of rabbit change remarkablely before and after SMAO shock, paraoxonase and haptoglobin may be associated with the compensation after SMAO shock.

Animals ; Arterial Occlusive Diseases ; blood ; complications ; Aryldialkylphosphatase ; metabolism ; Blood Proteins ; metabolism ; Female ; Haptoglobins ; metabolism ; Male ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; pathology ; Proteome ; metabolism ; Proteomics ; methods ; Rabbits ; Shock ; blood ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of integrative medicine (IM) rehabilitation protocolon motor function, activity of daily living, and quality of life (QOL) in hemiplegia patients after stroke.

METHODSTotally 120 patients with post-stroke hemiplegia were allocated to four groups using sealed envalope drawing, i.e., the rehabilitation group, the Chinese medical treatment group, the acupuncture group, and the comprehensive rehabilitation group, 30 cases in each group. Based on routine rehabilitative training, patients in the Chinese medical treatment group, the acupuncture group, and the compre-hensive rehabilitation group received standardized treatment based on syndrome typing, Shi's Consciousness-Restoring Resuscitation acupuncture, Chinese herbs + acupuncture comprehensive rehabilitatino protocol, respectively. The treatmet cycle consisted of 4 weeks with 24-week follow-ups. Fugl-Meyer motor assessment (FMA), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale(SS-QQL), and safety assessment were taken as main effect indices before treatment, at week 4 of treatment, at week 12 and 24 of follow-ups, respectively.

RESULTSThere was no statistical difference in FMA score, MBI score, SS-QOL score among the four groups before treatment (P > 0.05). These scores were significantly improved in the four groups at week 4 of treatment, week 12 and 24 of follow-ups, respectively (P < 0.05). Besides, FMA score and SS-QOL score were significantly improved in the comprehensive rehabilitation group at each corresponding time point, as compared with other treatment groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe comprehensive protocol could significantly improve motor function, activity of daily living in hemiplegia patients after stroke, and further improve their QOL. Its effect was better than other single treatment.

Activities of Daily Living ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Hemiplegia ; rehabilitation ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; methods ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Motor Skills ; Quality of Life ; Stroke Rehabilitation ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo summarize and analyze preventive strategies of secondary spinal cord injury caused by subaxial cervical trauma.

METHODSFrom April 2004 to April 2009, 67 patients with secondary spinal cord injury caused by subaxial cervical trauma were retrospectively analyzed. There were 40 males and 20 females, with an average age of 40.5 years old ranging from 18 to 69 years. After admission the preventive strategies included using MP and GM-1, early decompression, and high pressure oxygen after operation. The neurological function was classified by Frankel, and the therapeutic effect was evaluated by total recovery rate and useful recovery rate. The total recovery rate was that the level of Frankel raise one or more grade, the useful recovery rate which included Frankel D, E was that the patient can walk by self or crutch, remaining some neurological deficits.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up for 1 to 3 years (averaged 1.5 years), the total recovery rate was 53.7% (36/67), the useful recovery rate was 35.8% (24/67). Seven patients was death, the death rate was 10.4% (7/67), 1 was aggravated, the aggravating rate was 1.5% (1/67).

CONCLUSIONAs possible as using MP, GM-1, early decompression, and high pressure oxygen after operation can be effective strategies for preventing secondary spinal cord injury caused by subaxial cervical trauma.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae ; injuries ; Decompression, Surgical ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; prevention & control

Objective:To investigate the therapeutic effects of noninvasive ventilation on heart failure(HF)after acute myocardial infarction(AMI)in rats.Methods:A rat model of HF after AMI was established by ligation of the left ventricular branch.Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups according to the random number table method: sham operation group, non-treatment group and noninvasive ventilation treatment group(n=30, each group). Echocardiography was performed on the third day after surgery, and parameters including left atrial diameter(LAD), left ventricular end diastolic diameter(LVEDD), interventricular septum thickness(IVS)and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)were recorded.Serum levels of brain natriuretic peptide 45(BNP45), tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α), matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9), and heat-shock protein 70(HSP70)were measured at day 3 after operation by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays(ELISA). Morphological changes of myocardial tissue were analyzed with hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling(TUNEL).Results:Compared with the non-treatment group, LVEDD decreased[(153.9±8.1)mm/m 2vs.(164.7±10.4)mm/m 2, P<0.05]and LVEF increased[(63.9±7.6) % vs. (54.4±9.4) %, P<0.05]in the noninvasive ventilation group .Compared with the non-treatment group, serum levels of BNP45[(0.65±0.07) % vs. (0.73±0.07) μg/L, P<0.05], TNF-α(361.5±13.1) μg/L vs. (399.1±12.6) μg/L( P<0.05), MMP-2(6 892.8±530.2) μg/L vs. (7 406.0±667.5) μg/L( P<0.05)and MMP-9(143.8±5.9) μg/L vs. (151.1±8.3) μg/L( P<0.05)decreased and levels of HSP70[(1.7±0.1)μg/L vs.(1.4±0.1)μg/L, P<0.05]increased in the noninvasive ventilation group.HE staining showed focal accumulation of neutrophils in the epicardium, loss of muscle striation, disorganized cell polarity and enlarged nuclei in the non-treatment group.Meanwhile, alleviated inflammation, scattered neutrophils between cardiomyocytes and misaligned muscle striation were observed in the noninvasive ventilation group.TUNEL results showed that the myocardial apoptotic index was lower in the noninvasive ventilation group than in the non-treatment group( P<0.05). Conclusions:Noninvasive ventilation can effectively improve heart function, reduce inflammatory response and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in rats with AMI-induced HF and may be an effective treatment for HF after AMI.