[Objective] To observe analgesic action produced by electvoacupuncture (EA) of different intensity in adjuvant arthritis (AA) rats. [Methods] AA rat models were induced and the rats were randomized into 3 groups: group A, group B and group C. Group A and group B were treated with EA on points of Kunlun (BL60) and Yangtingquan (GB34) at the same wave type and wave frequency but at different electric current (3.5mA and 5.5mA respectively). Group C was performed with mimic EA. Pain threshold (PT) in the three groups before and after EA was observed. [Results] After EA, PT of the affected limb in group A and group B was increased (P0.05). [Conclusion] Analgesic action of EA at the same wave type and wave frequency while at different electric current is different: analgesic action at middle-intensity current is superior to that at large-intensity current; its possible mechanism is related to the participation of central nervous system.

Objective To investigate the effects of Gefarnate on expression of myeloperoxidase (MPO),cyelooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and COX-2 in trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS) induced experimental colitis in rats and its therapeutic effects on ulcerative colitis. Methods Forty female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 4 groups with 10 each. The rats in group A, B and C were infused with TNBS/alcohol by enema. After the production of colitis, the rats in group A or B were treated daily with 1 ml of normal saline or with 1 ml of 5-ASA (100 mg/kg) by enema,and those in group C were treated daily with 1 ml of Gefarnate by gavage. Group D was served as normal control. After the production of colitis,animals were sacrificed at day 7 and 14 with 5 in each group. The macroscopic changes of the colon were evaluated according to disease activity index (DAD scoring and histological change was assessed by HE staining. MPO activity of the mucosa was detected by biochemical methods. Expressions of COX-1 and COX-2 in tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results Compared with group A, macroscopic and histological scores and MPO activity were significantly decreased in group B and C (P<0.05). The expressions of COX-1 at day 7 and 14 were 1.86±0.51 and 1.96±0.41 in group B, 1.73±0.68 and 1.79±0.6 in group C, 1.91±0.34 and 1.99±0.45 in group D, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in group A (0.87±0.18 and 0.93±0.15, P<0.05). Whereas the expressions of COX-2 at day 7 and 14 were 1.53±0.19 and 0.73±0.15 in group B, 1.73±0.94 and 0.86±0.29 in group C, 0.24±0.18 and 0.18±0. 16 in group D, respectivley, which were significantly lower that those in group A (3.50±0.2;3 and 3.06±0.27). There was a significant difference between group D and group B or C (P<0.05). Conclusions Gefarnate provides a therapeutic effect during TNBS-induced colitis in rats, which is similar to that of 5-ASA. The mechanisms are involved in decreasing the concentration of colonic MPO and regulating the expression of COX-1/COX-2.

Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is an important protein of the innate immune response, and protects against viral infections. To search for an alternative splicing isoform of STING, we undertook rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) and RT-PCR with RNA extracted from human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells and primers designed according to the mRNA sequence of full-length STING(NM-198282. 82). The new sequence was compared using a bioinformatics method. Then, a newly discovered, alternative splicing isoform of STING, named "STING(sv)", and STING(wt) were subcloned into the eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-C1 and pcDNA 3. 1. Whole-cell extracts were analyzed by western blotting and then probed with monoclonal antibody against enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) after transfection of EGFP-STING(wt) and EGFP-STING(wt) plasmids in HEK293 cells. pcDNA-STING(wt) and pcDNA-STING(wt) were transfected in HEK293 cells, and the luciferase assay carried out. Compared with STING(wt), STING(sv) lacks exon 7 so that shift in the reading frame may produce a protein with a different C-terminal in amino acids 1-30. Western blotting confirmed an expected strong band at 58 x 10(3) kD. The functional luciferase assay showed that STING(sv) inhibited the activity of the interferon (IFN)-β promoter. STING(sv) can be expressed in multiple tissues and distinct cell lines. Our discovery of a new, alternative splicing isoform of STING provides new insights into the functional regulation of STING. STING(sv) could be a dominant negative inhibitor for the activity of the IFN-β promoter in the virus-infection pathway. Hence, STING(sv) could participate in the "fine tuning" of the virus-induced activation of IFN. Therefore, exploring the role of STING(sv) in the pathogenesis of human diseases could be very worthwhile.
Alternative Splicing ; Amino Acid Sequence ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Interferon-beta ; genetics ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Protein Isoforms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Sequence Alignment

Objective To investigate the influence of high-voltage electrical burn on the throm-bomodulin (TM), protein C (PC), protein S (PS) and D-Dimer (D-D) in SD rats. Methods One hundred and twenty healthy SD rats were divided into the fake high-voltage electrical burn groups (FHEB), high-voltage electrical burn groups (HEB) according to the random number table, with 60 rats in each group. Ten rats were taken from each group at 15 minutes before injury. Plasma were collected from heart blood. Fifty SD rats of HEB group with voltage regulator and experimental transformer. The remaining fifty SD rats of FHEB group were sham injured with the same devices without electric current. At 5 minutes and 1, 2, 4, 8 hour (s) post injury, 10 rats of every group were randomly chosen at each time point for observation of the concentrations of TM, PC, PS and D-D. Plasma were collected from heart blood. Data were processed with analysis of variance of factorial design and LSD test. Results Compared with the FHEB group, the concentration of TM from 5 minutes to 8 hours post injury in HEB group was higher significantly (P < 0.05). Exception of the concentrations of PC and PS at 15 minutes before injury, the concentrations of PC and PS were lower than those of FHEB group (P < 0.05). The concentration of D-D in HEB group peaked at 8 hours post injury in (173.05 ± 4.08) ng/mL. Conclusion High-voltage electrical burn at early stage can increase the concentrations of TM, D-D, as well as decrease the concentrations of PC and PS, which are not only causing the vascular endothelium damage but also possessing serious effect on the thromboplastin function of SD rats.

Objective To investigate the ability of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and MRI in detecting skull-base invasion in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods Sixty-one patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma received whole body and skull-base tomography SPECT, and nasopharynx and skull-base MRI before radiotherapy. The results were double-blind compared and evaluated. Results The overall positive rates of skull-base invasion detected by SPECT and MRI were 51% and 46% (P=0.508). In paitents with headache, cranial nerve palsy or both, the rates were 83% and 86% (P=1.000) ,80% and 80% (P=1.000), 88% and 94% (P=1.000), respectively. In patients with T1+T2 and T3+T4lesions,the rates were 22% and 0(P=0.031) ,74% and 82% (P=0.250) ,repectively. In patients with N0+N1and N2+N3lesions,they were 50% and 48% (P=1.000) ,53% and 40% (P=0.500) ,respectively. The conformation rate between SPECT and MRI was 85%. Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that T stage was a risk factor for positive SPECT(χ2=4.23,P=0.040, OR=3.04). Headache tended to be a risk factor for both positive SPECT and positive MRI (χ2=3.13, P=0.077, OR=4.54;χ2=3.64,P=0.056,OR=12.00). Conclusions The detection sensitivity of SPECT in skull-base invasion in nasopharyngeal carcinoma is equivalent to that of MRI. The consistency between SPECT and MRI is good. Moreover, there is a good correlation between SPECT and symptoms, signs and stage. SPECT of skullbase tomography is necessary for patients with severe headache, negative CT and those who can not receive MRI. When SPECT result is positive,skull-base should be considered to be invaded and should be defined as gross tumor volume in radiotherapy planning.

Objective To explore the correlation between-173G/C gene polymorphism of macrophage migration inhibitory factor(MIF) and Henoch-Schonlein purpura(HSP),Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis(HSPN) in children in Jiangxi Province.Methods One hundred and thirty-one ethnic Han children with HSP were enrolled,including 80 children with concurrent nephritis(HSPN group) and 51 children without nephritis(HSP without nephritis group).One hundred and five healthy children were used as the healthy control group.Germline DNA was extracted from peripheral blood by Promega blood genomic DNA kit.Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP) was used for genotyping the-173G/C polymorphism of MIF.Genotype distribution and allele frequencies were obtained by direct counting.Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS 11.5 software.Allele and genotype distribution were compared by using the chi-square test.The relative risk of allele was described by odds ratios(OR) and 95% confidence intervals(95%CI).Results Three genotypes(GG,GC,CC) were detected in MIF-173 G/C.GG,GC genotypes were detected in HSP without nephritis and healthy control group.GG,GC and CC genotypes were detected in HSPN group.Mutant genotype(37.5%) and C allele frequency(20.0%) in HSPN group were significantly higher than those in healthy control group(20.0% and 10.0%,respectively)(?2=6.964,7.400,Pa

Objective To evaluate the influence of self-etch adhesive,total-etch adhesive and glass ionomer cement on the marginal microleakage of class II restorations. Methods Thirty human premolars were randomly divided into 3 groups(n=10),and cuboid class II cavities(4.0 mm?3.5 mm?2.5 mm) were prepared.Restoration was performed using self-etch adhesive+nano-resin(self-etch group),total-etch adhesive + nano-resin(total-etch group) or glass ionomer cement(glass ionomer group).Half of each group underwent 200 thermocyclings and the other half underwent 500 thermocyclings.The specimens were immersed in 0.5% basic fuchsin for staining.Each tooth was then evaluated the microleakage at the axial wall and the gingival wall section by section under a stereomicroscope.The data were statistically analyzed. ResultsSelf-etch group had significantly more miroleakage than total-etch group and glass ionomer group after 200 and 500 thermocyclings(P

Objectives To investigate the role of lymphangiogenesis in the perineural micrometastasis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Methods The clinical data of 30 pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients who were admitted from Sep. 2005 to Oct. 2006 for extended radical surgery were collected. The samples including pancreatic cancer, adjacent tissue, lower bile duct, pancreatic tail, the structure surrounding the SMA (peripancreatic nerve plexus) and lymph nodes were collected during operation. They were subjected to conventional pathological examination. The lymphatic capillaries weredetected by double immunohistochemical staining and the lymphatic vessel density ( LVD) was measured. Results Intra-pancreatic and/or peripancreatic neural invasion was observed in 25 patients (83. 3% ) , of which 20 were found to have both the peri-pancreatic and intra-pancreatic neural invasion. The other 5 only had the intrapancreatic neural fiber invasion and there was no single patient with peri-pancreatic neural fiber invasion only. Peri-neural invasion was not significantly associated with patients' age, gender, lymph node metastasis, tumor size and the location (P > 0.05) , but was obviously associated with JPS clinical staging ( P < 0. 05 ). The mean intratumoral LVD was (4.2 ±3.4) per field, which was significantly lower than (11.3 ±6.9) per field of adjacent tissue and (10.8 ±4.4)per field of normal pancreatic tissue(P<0.01). The mean intratumoral LVD between adjacent tissue and normal pancreatic tissue was not statistically different. Lymphatic vessel invasion was observed in non-malignant tissues in 18 patients, and there was a distribution correlation between lymphatic vessel invasion and extra-pancreatic neural plexus invasion (P<0.05). Conclusions The incidence of peri-neural invasion was high, peri-neural invasion was associated with JPS clinical staging and lymphatic vessel invasion, which suggested the possibility of the cancer spreading by peritumoral lymphangiogenesis route into the peri-SMA neural plexuses.

Objective To explore the effects of minimally invasive removal of intracranial hematoma on blood-brain barrier (BBB) index, serum myelin basic protein (MBP) and activity of daily living (ADL) in hypertensive patients with cerebral hemorrhage.Methods Through observing 30cases operated within 3.0 hours, 32 case operated between 3. 1-8. 0 hours, 28 cases operated between 8. 1 to 24.0 hours and 22 cases operated over 24 hours, the changes of BBB index, serum MBP and ADL were analyzed. Results The BBB index and serum MBP were significantly lower in patients operated within 8. 0 hours than in patients operated over 8. 1 hours [≤3.0 hours group:(6.57±0.69)×10-3 and (3. 12±0.40)μg/L;3. 1-8.0 hours group: (7. 37±1.29)×10-3 and (3.25±0.60)μg/L;8. 1-2.0 hours group: ( 12. 02± 1.51 ) × 10 3 and (4. 60±0. 48)μg/L;over 24.0 hours group: ( 14. 68±2.07)×10-3 and (5.88±0.64)μg/L,Q＞13.8,P＜0. 05]. And the ADL was lower in patients operated within 8. 0 hours than in patients operated over 8. 1 hours [≤3.0 hours group: (2. 60± 1.07)scores; 3.1-8.0 hours group: (3. 06±0. 91 )scores;8. 1-24.0 hours group: (4.00±0.67) scores;over 24.0 hours group:(3.68±1.32)scores,Q＞3. 1,P＜0.05].Conclusions The minimally invasive surgery of intracranial hematoma within 8.0 hours can mitigate the cytotoxicity-damaged BBB so as to lighten brain edema and improve the patients quality of life.

Objective To investigate the correlation of multidrug resistance gene 1 (MDR1),NR3C1 gene polymorphisms and clinical risk factors with efficacy,dependence,and resistance of glucocorticoid (GC) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).Methods Anti coagulation blood samples of 196 healthy controls and 105 IBD patients received GC therapy were collected.There were 62 ulcerative colitis (UC) and 43 Crohn's disease (CD) in the IBD patients.The number of GC sensitive,GC dependent and GC resistant of UC patients were 36,13 and 13,respectively,and those of CD patients were 24,11 and eight.GC refractoriness included GC dependence and resistance.The genotype of MDR1 C3435T and NR3C1 Bcl Ⅰ of all the subjects was detected by the restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction (RFLP-PCR).The correlation between each genotype frequency,clinical features of patients with IBD and the efficacy of GC treatment was analyzed by Chisquare test,Fisher exact probability method or t test.Results Among UC patients,the disease course of GC refractory group and GC resistant group was longer than that of GC sensitive group ((6.660±1.523)years,(6.500±1.111) yearsvs (3.350±0.697) years,t=2.211,P=0.031; t=2.930,P=0.005).The serum level of C reaction protein (CRP) of GC refractory group was higher than that of GC sensitive group ((47.628±13.913) mg/Lvs (16.854±4.121) mg/L,t=2.121,P=0.047).The chronic relapse type was more common in GC refractory UC patients (Fisher exact probability method,P=0.035),and severe patients were more common in UC with GC resistance (Fisher exact probability method,P=0.021).The white blood cell count of GC resistant and GC refractory CD patient was lower than that of GC sensitive CD patients ((5.710 ± 0.604) ×109/L,(5.878±0.405) × 109/L vs (7.814 ±0.670) × 109/L,t=2.334,P=0.028; t=2.045,P=0.018).Patients with extraqntestinal manifestations was more common in CD with GC resistance (Fisher exact probability method,P=0.035).There was no statistically significant difference in the frequencies of MDR1 C3435T,NR3C1 Bcl Ⅰ genotypes,allelic genes and gene carrier among control group and GC sensitive dependent and resistant group of IBD patients.However,the frequency of MDR1 C3435T gene carrier was significantly different between GC sensitive group and GC refractory group,especially between GC sensitive group and GC resistance group (68.33％ vs 48.89％,x2 =4.051,P=0.044; 68.33％ vs 42.86％,x2 =4.274,P =0.039).Conclusions GC sensitivity of IBD patients with MDR1 C3435T loci T gene carrier was higher than that of IBD patients without T gene carrier.NR3C1 gene polymorphisms was not related with GC resistance and GC dependence.Compared with GC sensitive IBD patients,in GC resistant and GC dependent IBD pantient UC patients with long disease course,chronic relapse type,severe type,high level of CRP and CD patients with low white blood cell count and extra-intestinal manifestations were more common.