Female ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Semicircular Canals ; surgery ; Vertigo ; etiology ; surgery

Objective To observe the in vitro damage to hairs by Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Microsporum canis using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy ( SEM ), and to compare the differences in the duration needed for the two fungi to damage hairs in different age groups. Methods We collected healthy hairs from different age groups, and performed hair perforation test in vitro. The damage to the hairs was observed by SEM and light microscopy. Results Both T. mentagrophytes and M. canis could damage the hairs. The duration needed for T. mentagrophytes to damage the hairs was significantly shorter than that for M. canis in all age groups ( P

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of He's Santong needling method on neurological functional deficit in the patient of ischemic apoplexy, and search for an effective method for treatment of ischemic apoplexy.

METHODSAccording to the randomized and multi-central trial principle, 319 cases enrolled were randomly assigned to an observation group of 161 cases and a control group of 158 cases. The observation group were treated with He's Santong needling method, i. e. blood letting, puncturing with a red-hot needle and filiform needle therapy by stages, and the control group were treated with acupuncture at 12 points of the hand and foot routinely selected in the department, once daily. After treatment of 30 days, changes of neurological functional deficit score were investigated in the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 91.93% in the observation group and 70. 25% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05); there was no significant difference in changes of the neurological functional deficit score between the patients at the acute stage and the convalescence (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of He's Santong needling method on ischemic apoplexy at acute stage or convalescence is better than that of the routine point selection.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Brain Ischemia ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; physiopathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo observe clinical therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture on central vestibular disequilibrium syndrome.

METHODSForty-six cases were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, 23 cases in each group. The treatment group were treated with electroacupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Fengfu (GV 16), Fengchi (GB 20) and other points, combined with rehabilitation training, and the control group with the rehabilitation training. After treatment for 4 weeks, the Berg Balance Scale and the parameters of static posturogram were observed to assess the therapeutic effects.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 86.96% in the treatment group and 65.22% in the control group, with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05); after treatment, the treatment group in the cumulative score for the Berg Balance Scale was superior to the control group (P<0.05); and the parameters of static posturogram with opening eyes in the treatment group improved significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture plus rehabilitation training is an effective method for central vestibular disequilibrium syndrome.

Acupuncture Points ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Eye ; Humans

In order to study the constituents and pharmacology of Tripterygium plants (Tripterygium willfordii Hook.f), a variety of chromatography methods were used. Four compounds were isolated from Tripterygium plant and their structures were elucidated by UV, IR, MS, HR-MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and 2D-NMR techniques. The isolated compounds were named as triptonide (1), neo-triptetraolide (2), 2alpha-hydroxytriptonide (3), and 15-hydroxytriptonide (4), separately. Compounds 3, 4 belong to new diterpenoids, which can inhibit the growth of K562 cells (leukemia cells) and HL60 cells (acute myeloid leukemia cells).
Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Diterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Tripterygium ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Animals ; Cell Cycle ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; Hypoxia ; enzymology ; genetics ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; enzymology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Telomerase ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo detect the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) in aqueous humor of patients with active choroidal neovascularization (CNV).

METHODSAqueous humor samples were obtained from 32 patients with active CNV. The concentrations of VEGF and PEDF in aqueous humor were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for quantitative analysis. VEGF and PEDF in 10 samples of aqueous humor from patients with cataract were also detected by the same methods as control.

RESULTThe mean VEGF and PEDF concentrations in aqueous humor of active CNV patients were higher than those in the control group (P=0.000).

CONCLUSIONThe patients with active CNV exhibit significantly higher VEGF and PEDF levels than those in control, indicating that VEGF along with PEDF may modulate the formation of CNV.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aqueous Humor ; chemistry ; Choroidal Neovascularization ; metabolism ; Eye Proteins ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Growth Factors ; analysis ; Serpins ; analysis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the splice variants of the calpain 3 gene existing in human skeletal muscle tissue and white blood cells, and to explore the feasibility of gene diagnosis using CAPN3 mRNA extracted from peripheral leukocytes.

METHODSTotal RNA was extracted from peripheral blood and skeletal muscle tissue in healthy individuals. CAPN3 cDNAs were determined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing. CAPN3 cDNAs from peripheral leukocytes were compared with sequences obtained from skeletal muscle tissue.

RESULTSRT-PCR and DNA sequencing showed that the CAPN3 cDNAs comprised 24 exons in human skeletal muscle tissue, while the number of exons was 23 in white blood cells. Exon 15 was spliced out in human white blood cells.

CONCLUSIONSplice variants exist in human skeletal muscle tissue and white blood cells. Gene diagnosis may omit the mutations of exon 15 using mRNA extracted from peripheral leukocytes. These findings suggest that mutation analysis of the CAPN3 cDNA should use skeletal muscle tissue as materials instead of peripheral blood.

Calpain ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Exons ; genetics ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; metabolism ; Muscle Proteins ; genetics ; Muscle, Skeletal ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

BACKGROUNDNumerous Asian cases of avian influenza virus infection, especially the highly pathogenic strain H5N1, in humans have raised the concern that another influenza pandemic is close. However, there are no effective therapeutic drugs or preventative vaccines available. Hemagglutinin is the membrane glycoprotein of avian influenza virus responsible for receptor binding to human cells and the main immunogenic protein that elicits a strong immune response. Although this protein is of great importance to the study of pathogenesis and vaccine development, its expression and purification are difficult due to high levels of glycosylation.

METHODSIn this study, we expressed codon-optimized, full-length hemagglutinin 5 (H5) protein fused with a human IgG Fc tag (H5-Fc) in HEK293 cells. To enhance secretion of this protein, we also deleted the transmembrane domain and the intracellular domain of the H5 protein (H5DeltaTM-Fc). Purified proteins were obtained using a protein A column.

RESULTSELISA revealed that the yield of soluble H5DeltaTM-Fc protein in the supernatant was about 20 mg/L. Western blotting and fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) indicated that the purified H5 protein was correctly folded and biologically active.

CONCLUSIONPurification of H5 proteins from mammalian cells could be used for large-scale production of recombinant H5 protein for basic scientific research or the development of vaccines.

Cell Line ; Codon ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Protein Folding ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism