Objective To observe the effect of Zhuyun Capsule(Pregnant-promoting Capsule)on serum sex hormone and expres- sion of ovarian cytokine of polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS)rats.Methods Progestogen plus human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG)was adopted to make PCOS rat models.Totally 40 SD rats were randomized into control group,PCOS model group,Zhuyun Capsule group,and clomiphene citrate group with 10 in each.Radioimmune assay(RIA)was used to measure the sex hormone and immunohistochemical test was done to measure the expression of tumor necrosis factor-?(TNF-?)of ovarian tissue,insulin-like growth factors-1(IGF-1),and leukemia inhibitory factor(LIF)to analyze the relations among these factors.Results Zhuyun Capsule could reduce greatly serum testosterone(T)and luteinizing hormone(LH),decrease expression of TNF-?and IGF-1,but increase expres- sion of LIF.Conclusion Zhuyun Capsule could regulate endocrine function and expression of ovarian cytokine to improve gonad func- tions of PCOS rats and to promote the maturation of follicle and ovulation.

Cerebral Infarction ; etiology ; Dextrocardia ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Spleen ; abnormalities ; Syndrome

Objective To compare and analyze the diagnostic value of prenatal ultrasound and MRI in fetal thoracic abnormalities, as well as the advantages and disadvantages, respectively, and to explore the clinical value of the combined use in diagnosing fetal thoracic abnormalities.Methods The prenatal ultrasound and MRI images of total 94 cases with thoracic abnormalities were analyzed retrospectively.All the patients received MRI exams within 2 days after the preliminary ultrasound diagnosis of abnormalities.All cases were confirmed by autopsy or postnatal follow-ups.Results 94 cases of thoracic abnormalities included 48 cases of cystic adenoma abnormalities, 33 cases of bronchopulmonary sequestration, 10 cases of diaphragmatic hernia and 3 cases of primary pulmonary hypoplasia.The diagnosis coincidence rate of ultrasound was 82.98% (78/94), while the combined use was 93.62% (88/94).There were statistical differences between the combined use and single ultrasound examination in detecting fetal thoracic abnormalities(P<0.05).Conclusion Both ultrasound and MRI could diagnose fetal thoracic abnormalities well and had its own advantages and disadvantages.The combined use of ultrasound and MRI could improve the sensitivity and specificity of prenatal diagnostic accuracy and have a better advantage in diagnosing fetal thoracic abnormalities.

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of acupuncture in treating obesity complicated with climacteric syndrome (OCCS).

METHODSThirty female OCCS patients were treated by acupuncture, combination of body and auricular acupuncture, according to the treating principle based on syndrome differentiation. The changes in symptoms, signs, obesity index, Kupperman index, vegetative nerve system equilibrium index (Y value), levels of estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), leptin (LP), insulin (INS), nitric oxide (NO), nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and insulin activation index (IAI) in patients were observed.

RESULTSThe obesity index, Kupperman index, Y value, and levels of LH, FSH, GnRH, LP, and INS increased, while levels of E2, NO, NOS and IAI decreased in OCCS patients. After acupuncture treatment, in the same time of obtaining promising effect in reducing weight, reversing effect was shown in all the above-mentioned parameters (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) .

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture has favorable regulatory effect on Kupperman index, Y value, E2, LH, FSH, GnRH, NO, NOS, LP, INS and IAI in OCCS patients, its effect in improving the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad axis, vegetative nerve function and vasomotor dysfunction, and adjusting the resistance to leptin and insulin may be the important mechanisms.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Climacteric ; Ear, External ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Insulin ; blood ; Leptin ; blood ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Obesity ; blood ; complications ; therapy ; Syndrome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Huayu Tongbi Recipe (HTR) combined methotrexate (MTX) in treating refractory rheumatoid arthritis (RRA).

METHODSTotally 167 RRA patients were assigned to the treatment group (73 cases) and the control group (94 cases) according to different therapeutic methods. Patients in the treatment group were treated with HTR combined MTX, while those in the control group were treated with leflunomide (LEF) combined MTX. Clinical signs and symptoms, RF, CRP, ESR, disease activity score 28 (DAS28), and safety indicators were compared between the two groups before treatment, at week 12 and 24 after treatment. The efficacy and safety indices were also evaluated.

RESULTSAt week 12 after treatment the total effective rate was 82.2% (60/73 cases) in the treatment group and 79.8% (75/94 cases) in the control group, showing no statistical difference between the two groups (chi2 = 0.15, P > 0.05). At week 24 after treatment the total effective rate was 78.1% (57/73 cases) in the treatment group and 755% (71/94 cases) in the control group, showing no statistical difference between the two groups (chi2 = 0.15, P > 0.05). There was statistical difference in the total effective rate between week 24 and week 12 in the control group (chi2 = 0.49, P < 0.05). Clinical signs and symptoms, RF, CRP, ESR, and DAS28 were significantly improved in the two groups after 12- and 24-week treatment (P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the improvement at week 12 after treatment between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was statistical difference in time of morning stiffness, tender joint numbers, swollen joint numbers, patient global assessment, RF, CRP, and DAS28 at week 24 after treatment between the two groups (P < 0.05). Besides, adverse reactions occurred less in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe efficacy of HTR combined MTX was equivalent to that of LEF (10 mg per day) combined MTX, but with more stable therapeutic effects and less adverse reactions.

Antirheumatic Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Arthralgia ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Isoxazoles ; Methotrexate ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo establish a rat model bearing brain glioma and investigate the optimal conditions for its experimental application.

METHODSC6 cells were implanted into the unilateral brain hemisphere of 20 Wistar rats. The growth behaviors of the brain tumor and behavioral changes of the rats were observed at different time points after the implantation.

RESULTSOn day 3 after the implantation, only a slight increase of signal intensity was observed on T2-weighted images. By day 5, the tumor became visible in 15/18 of the rats in at least two sections. By day 11, 16/18 of the rats showed space-occupying effect in the brain, and by day 14, the tumor occupied over 1/2 of the hemisphere in 14/18 of the rats. By day 20, 14/18 of the rats showed a tumor mass occupying over 2/3 of the hemisphere, and some tumor cells had migrated into the contralateral hemisphere.

CONCLUSIONIn this model of brain glioma, the optimal time widow for experiment is between 14 and 18 days after the cell implantation. The cell density and viability for implantation and the site of implantation may also affect the experimental time widow.

Animals ; Brain Neoplasms ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Glioma ; pathology ; Male ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of small interfering RNA on cell proliferation and apoptosis in gastric cancer cell lines with high expression of RegIα.

METHODSTotal RNA was isolated from six gastric cancer cell lines,and the expression of RegI α mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. RegI α RNAi expression vector was constructed and stably transfected into MKN45 and AGS cells with high RegI α expression, empty-vector was used as control. RegI α mRNA and protein expression was measured by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively in stable transfected cell lines. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected with MTT assay and flow cytometry.

RESULTRT-PCR results indicated that RegI α mRNA expression was significantly inhibited by RNAi in both cell lines compared with empty-vector. Western blot results showed that RegIα protein was down-regulated to (44 ± 4)% and (25 ± 4)% respectively in MKN45 and AGS cells compared to empty-vector. MTT results showed that cell growth was significantly inhibited in MKN45 and AGS cells. The apoptosis rate in MKN45 and AGS cells was remarkable increased compared to that of empty-vector (12.96 ± 0.50)% compared with (3.99 ± 0.30)% and (11.59 ± 1.10)% compared with (4.22 ± 0.40)% (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSmall interfering RNA of RegI α gene can efficiently down-regulate RegI α expression in MKN45 and AGS cell lines, and further inhibit cell growth and induce cell apoptosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; genetics ; Cell Cycle ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Genetic Vectors ; Lithostathine ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Plasmids ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo construct RegIα over-expression vector and to evaluate the effect of RegIα on the proliferation and apoptosis of gastric cancer MKN28 cells in vitro.

METHODSFull sequence of RegIα cDNA was amplified from normal gastric tissue samples by RT-PCR and cloned into pIRES2-EGFP vector. RT-PCR and Western blot were performed to detect expression levels of RegIα in MKN28 cells. The effects of over-expression RegIα on cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay and apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTRegIα cDNA over-expression vector of pIRES2-RegIα-EGFP was successfully constructed. The expressions of RegIα in MKN28 cells, including mRNA and protein levels, were significantly increased after stable transfection, which resulted in cell proliferation and anti-apoptotic effect induced by H(2)O(2).

CONCLUSIONThe over-expression of RegIα can promote cell proliferation and reduce cell apoptosis when induced by H(2)O(2) in gastric cancer cells.

Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo construct COL1A1-targeted short hairpin RNA (shRNA) vector with pSilencer 4.1-CMV neo siRNA expression vector and to evaluate its effect on proliferation and migration of gastric cancer BGC-823 cells in vitro.

METHODSThree COL1A1-shRNA plasmids (COL1A1-shRNA-1, COL1A1-shRNA-2, COL1A1-shRNA-3), targeting different sites of COL1A1 gene, were constructed using pSilencer 4.1-CMV neo siRNA expression vector and transfected into gastric cancer BGC-823 cells. Real time quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot were performed to detect expression levels of COL1A1. MTT and Transwell migration assays were employed to evaluate the effects of COL1A1 gene silence on cell proliferation and migration.

RESULTThree recombinant plasmids targeting COL1A1 were constructed successfully. The expressions of COL1A1 in BGC-823 cells, including mRNA and protein levels, were significantly inhibited by the COL1A1-shRNA transfectants, which resulted in a clear reduction of cell proliferation and migration capacity.

CONCLUSIONThe COL1A1-shRNA can effectively knock down gene expression and inhibit proliferation and migration of gastric cancer BGC-823 cells.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Collagen Type I ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Plasmids ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; Transfection ; Transformation, Bacterial

BACKGROUNDRetrocaval ureter is a rare congenital abnormality. Operative repair is always suggested in cases of significant functional obstruction. Laparoscopic procedures have been employed as the minimally invasive therapeutic option for retrocaval ureter. However, the laparoscopic techniques for retrocaval ureter might be technically challenging to some surgeons. The aim of this article was to present our experience and surgical techniques of pure transperitoneal laparoscopic pyelopyelostomy and ureteroureterostomy in nine patients with retrocaval ureter.

METHODSA total of nine patients of retrocaval ureter underwent pure laparoscopic pyelopyelostomy or ureteroureterostomy. The operation was performed with the patients placed in the 70-degree lateral decubitus position via a three port transperitoneal approach with two 10-mm and one 5-mm ports. The distal part of the dilated renal pelvis was transected at the ureteropelvic junction and the ureter was relocated anterior to the inferior vena cava. The tension-free pyeloureteral or ureteroureteral anastomosis was completed with the intracorporal freehand suturing and in situ knot-tying techniques combined with interrupted and continuous fashion. A double J ureteral stent was inserted in an antegrade manner during laparoscopy. Intravenous urography or computerized tomography and renal ultrasonography were performed after 3 months postoperatively.

RESULTSAll operations were completed laparoscopically, and no open conversion was required. The mean operative time was 135 minutes (range, 70 - 250 minutes), with minimal blood loss (less than 60 ml). No intra-operative complications or significant bleeding occurred. All patients presented mild postoperative pain and quick convalescence. The symptoms disappeared and hydronephrosis decreased substantially after surgery.

CONCLUSIONSPure transperitoneal laparoscopic correction for retrocaval ureter was associated with an excellent outcome, minimal invasiveness and short hospital stay. It is technically feasible and reliable for retrocaval ureter treatment. Laparoscopic surgery could be the standard treatment for retrocaval ureter.

Adult ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Ureter ; surgery ; Ureteral Obstruction ; surgery ; Young Adult