ObjectiveTo provide the early diagnosis of Alzheimer\'s disease(AD), the memory in the patients with mild cognitive impairment(MCI) was detected under the functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI), combined with the behavioral experiment.Methods9 patients with MCI and 9 controls matched for the age, gender, level of education and handedness performed encoding and retrieval of nonsense line drawings, presented visually while the MR machine was scanning. ResultsCompared with the controls, the patients manifested longer reaction time and lower correct ratio. The patients\' brain activation showed: the first episode of encoding of nonsense line drawings elicited distributed activation in bilateral dorsal lateral frontal lobes, left parahippocampus, bilateral temporal-occipital conjunction, parietal lobes and visual cortex in the control subjects. While these activations decreased in the second episode of encoding of the same stimuli, much stronger activation was found in most same areas during the retrieval phase except for the right parietal lobe, in which the patients showed stronger activation. Moreover, activation in the anterior cingulate cortex was observed only in the retrieval phase. The patients showed weaker and smaller activation in almost all activation areas during all tasks in the normal subjects. ConclusionThe patients with MCI have the deficit in memory. The examination of encoding and retrieval of nonsense line drawings by means of the behavioral experiment and fMRI test can offer a powerful reference for the early diagnosis of AD.

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of Qingfei Huatan Quyu method (QHQ, a Chinese medicinal therapy for clearing Fei-heat and dissolving phlegm-stasis) combined with hormone-antibiotic therapy (HAT) on radiation pneumonia (RP).

METHODSEighty-one patients with RP were randomized into two groups, 41 patients in the control group and 40 in the treatment group were treated with HAT alone and HAT combined with QHQ respectively for 21 days. The severity of RP was evaluated before and after treatment according to the criteria of the radiation therapy oncology group. The effect on TCM symptoms and chest roentgenogram, as well as on plasma levels of interleukin-6 ( IL-6) and transform growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) were detected.

RESULTSAfter treatment, number of patients with RP graded as 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 in the treatment group was 23, 10, 4, 2, and 1, respectively, while in the control group, 14, 9, 11, 4, and 3, respectively. The combined therapy showed effects in improving RP grading (P <0.01) and TCM syndromes were superior to those of HAT respectively (P < 0.05). Besides, levels of IL-6 and TGF-beta were lowered after treatment in the treatment group, showing a significant difference to those in the control group (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONQHQ combined with HAT has a definite therapeutic effect on RP. It could efficiently decrease the plasma levels of IL-6 and TGF-beta in patients with RP.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Radiation Pneumonitis ; drug therapy ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; blood

Objective To explore effect of early moxibustion intervention on cerebral Aβ1-40 in a mouse model of Alzheimer disease (AD) and the mechanism of action of moxibusion in preventing and treating AD.Method Gene phenotype in transgenic AD passage mice was identified using PCR. One and a half-month-old female Tg6799 transgenic mice were randomly allocated, including nine mice to a model group and eight mice to a treatment group. Nine C57BL/6J wild type female mice of the same age and background constituted a normal control group. Wheat-grain-sized moxa cone moxibustion on bilateral points Xinshu(BL15) and Shenshu(BL23) was given to the treatment group. After the completion of treatment, Aβ1-40 expression in mouse frontal cortex and hippocampal region was determined using the immunohistochemical method.Result Aβ1-40 expression in mouse frontal cortex and hippocampal region decreased significantly in the treatment group compared with the model group (P<0.01,P<0.05). Conclusion Early moxibustion intervention can decrease cerebral Aβ1-40 expression and delay AD pathological process in a mouse model of AD.

miR-200c has been shown to regulate the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by inhibiting ZEB1 and ZEB2 expression in breast cancer cells. This study further examined the role of miR-200c in the invasion and metastasis of breast cancer that goes beyond the regulation on ZEB1 and ZEB2 expression. In this study, the bioinformatics software (miRanda) was used to predict the target gene of miR-200c and Renilla luciferase assay to verify the result. The metastatic breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231 were cultured and transfected with the miR-200c mimic or inhibitor. The expressions of miR-200c and HMGB1 were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Transwell assay and wound healing assay were employed to examine the invasive and migrating ability of transfected cells. Target prediction and Renilla luciferase analysis revealed that HMGB1 was a putative target gene of miR-200c. After transfection of MDA-MB-231 cells with the miR-200c mimic or inhibitor, the expression of miR-200c was significantly increased or decreased when compared with cells transfected with the miR-200c mimic NC or inhibitor NC. Moreover, the expression of HMGB1 was reversely correlated with that of miR-200c in transfected cells. Tranwell assay showed that the number of invasive cells was significantly reduced in miR-200c mimic group when compared with miR-200c inhibitor group. It was also found that the migrating ability of cells transfected with miR-200c mimics was much lower than that of cells transfected with miR-200c inhibitors. It was suggested that miR-200c can suppress the invasion and migration of breast cancer cells by regulating the expression of HMGB1. miR-200c and HMGB1 may become useful biomarkers for progression of breast cancer and targets of gene therapy.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of Tuina (Chinese therapeutic massage) manipulation plus horse-riding squat exercise in treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and optimize the combining protocol. Methods: Based on a 2×2 factorial design, 120 eligible KOA patients were randomized into a manipulation group (group A1B2), a manipulation plus horse-riding squat group (group A1B1), a sitting knee-adjustment group (group A2B2 group), and a sitting knee-adjustment plus horse-riding squat group (group A2B1), with 30 cases in each group. The intervention was conducted three times a week, lasting for four weeks. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) was taken as the major measure for efficacy evaluation (including three component scores, pain, stiffness, and daily function, and total score). Results: The three component scores (pain, stiffness, and daily function) and the total score of WOMAC showed significant differences after the intervention in the four groups (P<0.05). There were significant inter-group differences in the WOMAC stiffness score amongst the four groups after the intervention (P<0.05). In group A1B1, the step length, stride, walking speed, and knee joint flexion angle changed significantly after treatment (P<0.05). After the intervention, the step length changed significantly in group A1B2 (P<0.05), and the walking speed changed significantly in group A2B1 (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the step length, stride, walking speed, or knee joint flexion angle among the four groups (P>0.05). The extensor peak torque at 180 °/s changed significantly in group A1B2 after treatment (P<0.05). Neither the intra-group nor the inter-group comparisons of the four groups revealed significant differences in the other isokinetic muscle strength parameters (P>0.05). The main effect of manipulation showed significant in affecting the WOMAC pain and total scores (P<0.05). The main effect of horse-riding squat exercise showed significant in affecting the WOMAC pain and stiffness scores (P<0.05). Conclusion: The four treatment protocols all can improve the symptoms of KOA, for instance, relieving pain and stiffness, and enhancing daily function. Group A2B1 produces the most eminent effect in relieving joint stiffness. The main effects of both manipulation and horse-riding squat exercise are significant in reducing pain. Besides, the main effect of horse-riding squat exercise is significant in relieving joint stiffness.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the prognostic factors affecting the disease-free survival in T1/T2N0M0-staged patients with squamous cell carcinoma of tongue and compare the effectiveness of different neck treatment modalities.

METHODS97 consecutive patients with early-staged squamous cell carcinoma of tongue were included in this study. The treatment and following-up records were reviewed retrospectively. Cox proportional hazard model was used to identify the statistically significant prognostic factors in the 6 potential factors. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the disease-free survival and analyze the survival rate among the different levels, and log-rank method for comparison of the different distribution of the survival. A special focus was on the effectiveness of different neck treatment modalities.

RESULTST stage, treatment methods of primary tumor, the modalities of neck treatment and cell differentiation were statistically significant prognostic factors. The value of P and relative risk (RR) were P < 0.001, RR = 4.387; P = 0.04, RR = 0.496; P = 0.003, RR = 0.504; P < 0.001, RR = 2.620, respectively. The difference of disease-free survival was statistically significant among the different levels under the different factors.

CONCLUSIONThe disease-free survival was affected by neck treatment modalities remarkably in cN0 stage patients. Selected neck dissection together with adjuvant irradiation could decrease the recurrence risk by 49.6% according to the results of this study. TNM stage system could describe the characteristics of the patients with early-staged squamous cell carcinoma of tongue reasonably.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neck Dissection ; Neoplasm Staging ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Tongue Neoplasms

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic massage (tuina) for treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods: Six English and Chinese databases, including Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Academic Journal Full-text Database (Wanfang), Chongqing VIP Database (CQVIP), China Biology Medicine Disc (CBM), Cochrane Library and PubMed databases, were independently searched to identify appropriate randomized controlled trials (RCTs) studying therapeutic massage for KOA compared to oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) alone. The main outcome measures were total effectiveness and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) score. Results: A total of 8 RCTs were included and they were of average quality. The results showed that therapeutic massage was more effective than NSAIDs comparing total effectiveness [risk ratio (RR)=1.14, 95％ confidence interval (CI) (1.07, 1.21), P<0.0001]; compared with NSAIDs, therapeutic massage produced more significant improvements in pain [mean difference (MD)=-2.06, 95％CI (-2.75, -1.36), P<0.00001], stiffness intensity [MD=-0.90, 95％CI (-1.05, -0.75), P<0.00001] and joint function [MD=-12.48, 95％CI (-13.91, -11.05), P<0.00001]. Conclusion: Therapeutic massage was more effective than oral NSAIDs in treating KOA. In relieving pain and stiffness and improving the function of knee joint, therapeutic massage was superior to NSAIDs.

Objective To develop an electrochemical impedance immunosensor based on polypyrrole modified microelectrodes for periodontal bacteria rapid quantification.Methods Mcirofluidic chip with embedded IDAM was prepared by conventional photolithography process.Then polypyrrole structure was deposited on microelectrodes through electropolymerization method.Polypyrrole was biofuncationalized with mouse anti-Porphyromonas gingivalis gingipain K IgG antibody using N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide-hydrochloride (EDC) chemistry.The linear relationship between the impedance and bacterial concentration,the impedance characteristic and the feasibility of the developed impedic immunosensor in quantifing Porphyromonas gingivalis was investigated respectively.Results The polypyrrole membrane structure was observed on work electrodes,and the lowest detection limit of the immunosensor was 107 cells/L in pure culture.In the concentration range of 107-1012 cells/L,a linear relationship was found between the normalized impedance change and the logarithmic value of the cell concentration.The total detection time from sampling to measurement was less than 1 h.Conclusions The immunosensor developed in the present study offered some insight into chair-side quantifing periodontal bacteria.

AIMTo study the effects of yi-zhi II (a compond of Chinese Traditional Medicine) on the alteration of synaptic structure in hippocampal CA3 and maintenance of memoy.

METHODSBy using the method of oral administration of yi-zhi II, the step-through test and electron microscopy, the latency of step-through and synaptic structure in hippocamal CA3 were tested.

RESULTS(1) The mice which had been given yi-zhi II prolong significantly the latency of step through (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) on the 1st, 6th and 12th day after learning. (2) On the 6th and 12th day after learning, the length of synaptic active zone were markly improved in yi-zhi II and control, but that of yi-zhi II was better than that of control. (On the 6th day after learning, the number of perforated synapses and axo-dendrite synapses were significantly improved by the yi-zhi II (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe yi-zhi II could improve the learning and memory in mice. It migth improve the memory by increasing the length of synaptic active zone and the number of perforated synapses and axo-dendrite synapses in hippocampal CA3.

Animals ; Avoidance Learning ; drug effects ; CA3 Region, Hippocampal ; drug effects ; physiology ; Chromosome Pairing ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Male ; Memory ; drug effects ; Mice ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology

The study was purposed to investigate the growth inhibitory effect of tanshinones on K562 cell line and the relationship between their structures and cytotoxicity. The modified MTT assay was adopted to measure the inhibitory effect of tanshinones at different concentrations and chemical structures on K562 cells, and the changes of cell morphology were observed by inverted phase contrast microscopy. The results indicated that the tanshinones could inhibit the proliferation of K562 cells effectively, and their cytotoxicities on K562 cells showed concentration- and time-dependent manners. The IC(50) of dihydrotanshinone I, tanshinone I, tanshinone IIA and cryptotanshinone at 24 hours were 0.91, 4.04, 5.95, 13.85 µg/ml at 48 hours were 0.37, 1.35, 1.71, 6.71 µg/ml; at 72 hours were 0.33, 0.46, 0.82, 6.02 µg/ml, respectively. It is concluded that all of the four tanshinones have proliferation inhibitory effect on K562 cell line, among them the dihydrotanshinone I is the most active one, followed by tanshinone I, tanshinone IIA and cryptotanshinone subsequently, indicating that the chemical structure of aromatic ring A of tanshinones can enhance their cytotoxicity and the structure of furan ring C may influence the cytotoxicity, but their mechanism is still remained to be further investigated.
Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Structure-Activity Relationship