Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture at the nine acupoints on nape in treating vertebrobasilar ischemia (VBI). Methods Totally 100 VBI patients were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 50 in each group. The treatment group was intervened by acupuncture at Fengfu (GV 16), Fengchi (GB 20), Wangu (GB 12), Tianzhu (BL 10), and Jiaji (EX-B 2, C3);while the control group was by oral administration of Nimodipine tablets. The parameters in Transcranial Doppler (TCD) and Dizziness Assessment Rating Scale (ADRS) were observed before and after intervention, and the clinical efficacies were compared. Results The TCD parameters were significantly changed in the treatment group after intervention (P<0.05). The TCD parameters [Vs (RVA), Vd (BA, LVA), Vm (BA, RVA), PI (BA)] were significantly changed in the control group after intervention (P<0.05). After intervention, there were significant differences in comparing the TCD parameters [Vs (BA, LVA, RVA), Vd (BA, RVA), Vm (BA, LVA), PI (BA)] between the two groups (P<0.05). The DARS average scores were significantly changed in both groups after 7-day treatment (P<0.01). The DARS average scores after the whole intervention were significantly different from that after 7-day treatment in both groups (P<0.01). There were significant differences in comparing the DARS average scores between the two groups after 7-day intervention and after the whole intervention (P<0.01). The recovery-markedly effective rate and total effective rate were respectively 76.0%and 98.0%in the treatment group versus 44.0%and 96.0%in the control group, and there was a significant difference in comparing the recovery-markedly effective rate (P<0.05). Conclusions Acupuncture at the nine nape acupoints is an effective method in treating VBI.

For the efficient interception performance of the membrane, some biological aspect in membrane bioreactor are different from those in the activated sludge process. The physiological and biochemical characteristics of microbial community, activated sludge, and microbial products in the membrane bioreactor are illustrated in this paper.

OBJECTIVEThe aim of the present study is to explore the effects of exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress on the antioxidant capacity and diformability of rat red blood cells.

METHODSRats were divided into three group (n = 10): sedentary control (C), exhaustive running exercise (ERE) and moderate running exercise (MRE) groups. Animals in the ERE group started treadmill running at a speed of 20 m/min speed with a 5% gradient, and reached a speed of 25 m/min with gradient 15% in 20 min. Running was continued until exhaustion. MRE group rats running at a speed of 20 m/min with a 5% gradient for 40 min. The levels of free thiol in erythrocyte membrane protein, lipidperoxidation levels and membrane protein components were analyzed. The red blood cell deformability of different groups was also observed.

RESULTSThe results showed that red blood cells were damaged by severe oxidative stress and the anti-oxidative capacity decreased significantly under exhaustive exercise conditions. Besides, lipid peroxidation and protein sulfhydryl cross-link based clustering of membrane were found after exhaustive exercise, and polymers high molecular weight (HMW) was formed. The elongation index (EI) was found to decline significantly in the ERE group compared with the C and MRE groups under shear stress (control group, 0.41 +/- 0.01 at 3 Pa and 0.571 +/- 0.008 at 30 Pa; ERE group, 0.314 +/- 0.013 at 3 Pa and 0.534 +/- 0.009 at 30 Pa; P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSIONThese exercise-induced oxidative injure result in a significant decrease in deformability of rat erythrocytes, which in turn leads to dysfunction in the microcirculatory.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Erythrocyte Deformability ; Fatigue ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

AIMTo investigate the stage-specific localization of transforming growth factor (TGF) beta1 and beta3 during spermatogenesis in adult human testis.

METHODSThe localization of TGFbeta1 and beta3 was investigated by immunohistochemical staining method employing specific polyclonal antibodies.

RESULTSBoth TGFbeta1 and beta3 and their receptors were preponderant in the Leydig cells. TGFbeta1 could not be detected in the seminiferous tubules. TGFbeta3 and TGFbeta-Receptor (R) I were mainly seen in the elongated spermatids, while TGFbeta-RII in the pachytene spermatocytes and weak in the spermatogonia, spermatids and Sertoli cells. Only TGFbeta-RII was detected in the Sertoli cells. TGFbeta3, TGFbeta-RI and TGFbeta-RII showed a staining pattern dependent upon the stages of the seminiferous epithelium cycle.

CONCLUSIONTGFbeta isoforms and their receptors are present in the somatic and germ cells of the adult human testis, suggesting their involvement in the regulation of spermatogenesis.

Adult ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Leydig Cells ; metabolism ; Ligands ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orchiectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism ; Seminiferous Epithelium ; cytology ; metabolism ; Spermatids ; metabolism ; Spermatogenesis ; physiology ; Testis ; metabolism ; physiology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Transforming Growth Factor beta3

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the immuno-effects of hepatitis B (HB) vaccination in adults.

METHODSFive groups were sampled by means of cluster sampling, and serum HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc were tested in every group at people aged from 18 to 50. Recombinant HB vaccine was injected to the ones that HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc were all negative. Concentration of anti-HBs in serum was tested after one year and three years of vaccination. Immuno-effects of recombinant HB vaccination in adults at different ages and between sexes, were then calculated.

RESULTSGood immuno-effects of recombinant HB vaccination in adults were noticed. After one year and three years of vaccination with 5 micro g recombinant HB vaccine, the anti-HBs positive rates were 82.76%, 70.77% while the serum concentrations of anti-HBs were 55.91 mIU/ml and 35.41 mIU/ml respectively. When 10 micro g was used, the concentrations were 83.74%, 72.22%, 56.89 mIU/ml and 30.29 mIU/ml respectively. The effects did not show significant differences between different doses on 10 micro g and of 5 micro g. Concentration of anti-HBs reduced when time went by. The factors such as age and sex influenced the effects of immunity on recombinant HB vaccination.

CONCLUSIONGood immunity could be obtained when recombinant hepatitis B was vaccinated in vulnerable population aged 18 to 50.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; prevention & control ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Vaccination ; Vaccines, Synthetic ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of different fertilization methods on the outcomes of elective blastocyst culture.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of elective blastocyst culture for 1 153 cycles of IVF and 205 cycles of ICSI performed between january 2009 and December 2012.

RESULTSA total number of 14 748 embryos in the IVF group and 2 655 embryos in the ICSI group underwent sequential blastocyst culture, with 7 871 blastocysts formed in the former and 1 210 in the latter. No cycles were canceled for no blastocyst formation in either of the two groups. The rates of quality embryos, blastocyst formation and embryo utilization were significantly higher in the IVF than in the ICSI group (64.77 vs 58.72%, 53.37 vs 45.57%, and 60.06 vs 52.17%, all P < 0.05), but the rates of implantation, clinical pregnancy and abortion showed no significant differences between the two groups (48.94 vs 51.43%, 49.03 vs 52.02%, and 11.69% vs 15.56, all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONWith the same inclusion criteria of selective blastocyst culture, IVF has a lower risk of cycle cancellation due to no blastocyst formation and therefore may effect higher rates of blastocyst formation and embryo utilization than ICSI. Our study suggested that appropriate inclusion criteria of selective blastocyst culture should be laid down according to different fertilization methods.

Adult ; Blastocyst ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; methods ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic

Objective· To investigate the relationship between pathological myopia and classification of vitreoretinal interface features using enhanced vitreous imaging optical coherence tomography (EVI-OCT). Methods · High myopia patients were included from 2015 to 2016. All participants underwent standardized medical interviews and ophthalmic examination. Results · The included eyes were divided into two groups of pathological myopia and simple high myopia based on myopic macular degeneration observed on fundus photography . There were four types of vitreoretinal interface changes demonstrated on EVI-OCT scans in included eyes: Type1, posterior precortical vitreous pockets (PPVP), Type2, partial posterior vitreous detachment with vitreous adhesion (VA), Type 3, epiretinal membrane (ERM), and Type 4, no traction (NT). Pathological myopia was mostly detected in VA, ERM, and NT groups. Conclusion · EVI-OCT was able to demonstrate the early changes of vitreoretinal interface in high myopia eyes. Vitreous adhesions and traction detected by OCT may facilitate the occurrence of pathological myopia.

BACKGROUNDPrevious prognosis analyses of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with stage II and III disease were done as separate categories. The purpose of this study was to analyze prognostic factors associated with survival in a group of patients who underwent radical resection of stages II and III CRC.

METHODSA retrospective review was performed for 141 consecutive stages II and III patients who had undergone radical resection of colorectal adenocarcinoma between May 2003 and November 2003. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the effect of record variables on disease free survival and overall survival.

RESULTSThe median follow-up time was 59 months, and the 3- and 5-year survival rates were 76% and 68%, respectively. Four factors were independently associated with a worse disease-free survival: diabetes (hazard ratio (HR) 2.338; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.011 - 5.407), expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) (HR 0.335; 95%CI 0.126 - 0.888), expression of matrix metalloproteinases 2 (MMP-2) (HR 0.233; 95%CI 0.101 - 0.541), expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (HR 0.295; 95%CI 0.088 - 0.996). Four factors were independently associated with a worse overall survival: lymph nodes metastasis (HR 1.67; 95%CI 1.29 - 2.14), Cox-2 positive (HR 0.056; 95%CI 0.247 - 0.731), MMP-2 positive (HR 0.398; 95%CI 0.190 - 0.836), VEGF (HR 0.364; 95%CI 0.090 - 0.716).

CONCLUSIONSDiabetes, expression of Cox-2, MMP-2 and VEGF were independently associated with a worse disease- free survival. Lymph nodes metastasis, expression of Cox-2, MMP-2 and high level of VEGF predicted a poor overall survival.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; pathology ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDRhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is an uncommon malignancy of the breast. The aim of this study was to summarize its clinicopathologic features and biological behavior.

METHODSFive primary or secondary breast RMSs were collected. Their clinicopathological characteristics and all published literature about breast RMS were reviewed. Immunohistochemical study of desmin, myogenic differentiation 1 (MyoD1), myogenin, leukocyte common antigen (LCA), vimentin, cytokeratin (AE1/AE3), E-cadherin, neuron specific enolase (NSE), CD99, chorioallantoic membrane 5.2 (CAM5.2) and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) expression were performed.

RESULTSThe five patients were all female with ages ranging from 16 to 46 years old (mean, 30 years). Three were metastatic breast RMSs, two embryonal and one solid variant alveolar, with the primary tumor sites the right labium majus, left nasal meatus and nasopharynx, respectively. The other two, one embryonal and one alveolar, were primaries. Grossly, the surgical specimens revealed round or oval, well-demarcated but nonencapsulated masses. Their cut surfaces consisted of homogeneous grayish yellow or white tissue. Microscopically, most tumor cells were poorly differentiated small round, oval or small polygons with eosinophilic cytoplasm. All cases were positive for vimentin, desmin, MyoD1 and myogenin. One embryonal RMS also had a few cells with perinuclear staining of AE1/AE3. The other markers were negative.

CONCLUSIONSAlthough primary or metastatic RMS in breast was almost confined to young adolescent females, our cases suggested that it can also happen to the middle-aged women. Embryonal RMS has a certain metastatic potential. MyoD1 and myogenin are two useful markers when making differential diagnosis. Axillary lymph node status and age may play a role in the prognosis of primary breast RMS patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Breast Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Middle Aged ; Rhabdomyosarcoma ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the variety of non-myeloperoxidase-mediated system activity of neutrophils in newborns during bacterial infection and the effect of cord plasma on the activation of non-myeloperoxidase-mediated system.

METHODSAn infection model with Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and a non-infection model with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) were established to investigate the activation of non-myeloperoxidase-mediated system in neutrophils. According to the intensity of fluorescence, the activation of non-myeloperoxidase-mediated system of neutrophils was detected by flow cytometry (FCM). The blood cells and plasma were separated from cord blood and adult blood and cross-mixed in order to investigate the opsonic activity.

RESULTSIn the non-infection model, the activation of non-myeloperoxidase-mediated system with PMA stimulation in cord blood was lower compared with that in adult blood, the statistical difference was significant (t = 3.378, P < 0.01). In the infection model, the activations of non-myeloperoxidase-mediated system in cord blood were also lower compared with those in adult blood, while the statistical difference could only be found in the model with E. coli stimulation (t = 12.150, P < 0.001). Furthermore the experiments demonstrated that cord plasma could deeply depress the non-myeloperoxidase-mediated system activity with E. coli stimulation. On the contrary, adult plasma could successfully recruit the potential of non-myeloperoxidase-mediated system activity of neutrophils in newborns.

CONCLUSIONThe function of neonatal neutrophils might not developed very well. As a stimulant, E. coli failed to induce the non-myeloperoxidase-mediated system activity in neonates, which might be related to the lower level of immunoglobulins in cord blood. This result indicated that immunoglobulins played a more important modulating role in bacterial killing during gram-negative bacterial infections.

Escherichia coli ; immunology ; Fetal Blood ; immunology ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Neutrophils ; enzymology ; immunology ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Staphylococcus aureus ; immunology