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

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

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

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

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 investigate the influence of combined supplementation of glutamine (Gln) and recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on the protein metabolism in severely burned patients.

METHODSSixty severely burned patients were enrolled in the study and were randomly divided into control (C, n = 20) and Gln with rhGH (Gln + rhGH, n = 20) groups. The patients in C group received glycine as the placebo, while those in Gln group took Gln orally in dose of 0.5 g kg(-1) d(-1) during 1-14 postburn days (PBDs). For the patients in Gln + rhGH group rhGH was administered subcutaneously in dose of 0.2 U kg(-1) d(-1) in addition to glutamine in same dosage beginning on the 7 PBD for 7 days. The plasma Gln concentration in the 3 groups of patients was determined on the 1st, 7th and 14th PBD and the plasma albumin level was determined on 14th and 21st PBD. The wound healing rate of the patients within 30 PBSs and the total hospital stay days were recorded.

RESULTSThe plasma Gln concentration in Gln + rhGH group of patients was evidently higher than that in C group after 7 PBD[(452.28 +/- 21.72) micromol/L vs(325.12 +/- 25.34) micromol/L, P < 0.05]. The plasma albumin level in Gln + rhGH group was obviously higher than that in C and Gln groups on the 21st PBD (P < 0.05). The wound healing rate in Gln + rhGH group was evidently higher than that in Gln and C groups on the 30th PBD (P < 0.05). The total hospital stay days in Gln + rhGH group were obviously less than that in C and Gln groups (P < 0.05 or 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCombined administration of Gln and rhGH could be beneficial to the elevation of plasma Gln level in severely burned patients and the systemic protein synthesis was therefore enhanced and the wound healing rate was improved.

Adult ; Aged ; Burns ; metabolism ; therapy ; Female ; Glutamine ; administration & dosage ; blood ; therapeutic use ; Human Growth Hormone ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recombinant Proteins ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Wound Healing ; drug effects ; Young Adult