Candidiasis, Oral ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Humans

This study was aimed to evaluate the clinical effect of 66 yin-deficiency acne cases treated with body constitution adjustment using acupuncture and moxibustion. In this research, 66 acne patients with the body con-stitution of yin-deficiency were selected . These patients were randomly divided into two groups ( 33 every group ) . The acupuncture treatment group was treated by acupuncture and local treatment. And moxibustion treatment group was treated by indirect moxibustion and local treatment. The treatment was given twice a week. And the improvement condition of acne skin lesions and yin-deficiency body constitution were evaluated after 12-week treatment. The results showed that certain curative effects were received in both groups. However, the moxibustion treatment group had higher curative effect compared with the acupuncture treatment group. There were significant statistical differences between two groups ( P < 0 . 05 ) , which meant moxibustion with local treatment had a higher curative effect than acupuncture with local treatment to acne. In the aspect of skin lesion improvement, according to the statistics, the moxibustion treatment group were statistically significant compared with acupuncture group (P< 0.05), which meant more obvious improvement of skin in the moxibustion treatment group. In the aspect of body constitution, the body constitution scores in both groups were significantly declined and the moxibustion treatment group was more obvious. There was statistical significance between two groups (P < 0.05), which meant patients in the moxibustion treatment group obtained a more obvious body constitution improvement. After the treatment, follow-up was given to all patients for 4 weeks. The results showed that both the acne skin lesion con-dition and yin-deficiency body constitution score were decreased and not achieve the recurrence diagnostic stan-dard. It showed that acupuncture and moxibustion are able to activate the self-regulation and disease resistibility of the body. It was concluded that acupuncture and moxibustion not only improve skin lesion of acne patients with the body constitution of yin-deficiency with inner heat , but also regulate yin-deficiency body constitution . Moxibustion had higher efficacy in the treatment of yin-deficiency with inner heat acne than acupuncture.

The translation of gene therapy from bench to bedside depends on efficient intracellular gene delivery. The macromolecular biologics such as gene combined with vectors tend to enter into the cells by means of endocytosis, where the biologics may encounter the risk of degradation in endolysosome. Recently, photochemical internalization (PCI) has emerged as a promising technique to overcome endo-lysosomal sequestration, which utilizes photosensitizer and light resulting in reactive oxygen species at sub-lethal level to destruct biofilm and facilitate intracellular drug delivery. In this article, the mechanism of PCI technology and its development for gene delivery were reviewed, which can provide the scientific basis for the possible utilization of PCI to solve the problem of endo-lysosomal escape in gene delivery.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Lignum Sappan (LS) containing serum on the proliferation cycle arrest of human lung cancer cell line PG and its molecular mechanism.

METHODSThe lung cancer PG cells were divided into four groups, i.e., the blank control group, the LS group, the LS plus cisplatin group, and the cisplatin group. They were cultured by RPMI-1640 with 20% blank serum, RPMI-1640 with 20% LS containing serum, RPMI-1640 with 20% LS containing serum plus 1 microg/mL cisplatin, and RPMI-1640 with 20% blank serum plus 1 microg/mL cisplatin, respectively. The morphology of PG cells was observed using light microscope and laser scanning confocal microscope in each group. The cell cycle arrest was observed using flow cytometry. The expression of P16 and Rb1 mRNA was tested by PCR method.

RESULTSUnder the light microscope and laser scanning confocal microscope, the apoptosis degree of PG cells in the LS group was significant, but less than that of the LS plus cisplatin group as well as the cisplatin group. Compared with the blank control group, the proportion of PG cells increased at G0/ G1 and S phases (P < 0.05) and decreased at G2/M phase (P < 0.01) in the LS group; The proportion of PG cells increased at G2/M and S phases (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and decreased at G0/G1 phase (P < 0.01) in the LS plus cisplatin group as well as the cisplatin group. Compared with the LS group, the proportion of PG cells increased at G2/M and S phases (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and decreased at G0/G1 phase (P < 0.01) in the LS plus cisplatin group as well as the cisplatin group. There was no statistical difference in PG cells at each phase between the cisplatin group and the LS plus cisplatin group (P > 0.05). The expression of P16 and Rb1 mRNA increased in the LS group, when compared with the blank control group. They also increased in the cisplatin group and the LS plus cisplatin group, higher than that of the LS group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the expression of P16 and Rb1 mRNA between the cisplatin group and the LS plus cisplatin group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLS containing serum induced PG cell apoptosis by up-regulating the mRNA transcription levels of P16 and Rb1, thus resulting in PG cell arrest at G0/G1 and S phases, which was different from the manner of cisplatin (achieved by arresting PG cells at G2/M and S phases through regulating cyclinB1 mRNA transcription).

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology

Objective To analyze clinical features and sum up experience for the treatment of ischemic bowel disease. Methods Clinical data of 73 patients with the diagnosis of ischemic bowel disease were retrospectively analyzed. ResultsTwenty-eight patients were male and 45 patients were female. The median of age was 65 years (range of 38 to 89 years). Forty-eight patients were associated with hypertension, 23%(17/73) patients had a history of coronary disease and 15% (11/73) had diabetes. Seventy patients presented symptom of abdominal pain and 93% (68/73) had hematochezia. Symptoms relieved by conservative treatment in 96% (63/66) patients. Nine patients underwent a surgery. One patient died of sepsis postoperatively. One suffered from colostomy necrosis and leakage of the rectum segment. Conclusion 1. Elder patients presenting symptoms of abdominal pain and hematochezia, especially with a history of cardio-cerebrovascular disease and diabetes should be considered for the possibility of ischemic bowel disease. 2. Most patients with ischemic bowel disease could be successfully treated by conservative therapy. 3. Surgery for patients with chronic relapsing and nonresponsible symptoms was difficult and patients often suffer from high postoperative complications.

Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) makes great contributions to the prosperous growth and people's health.But understanding deviation and imperfect evaluation system of TCM affect the healthy development of TCM.Clinic practice is the motive power of TCM,and curative effect is the key of TCM researches,and the scientific evaluation system is the safeguard for a healthy development of TCM.So we should focus on clinical researches of stubborn diseases and emergency cases to satisfy social demand and upgrade the position of TCM in the medical system.At the same time,functional disease must be explored to show the advantage of TCM.Our mission is to establish a scientific objective evaluation system to accurately understand TCM and take it as the turning point to give an impetus to theoretical breakthrough of the basic studies to promote an overall and healthy development of TCM.

BACKGROUNDOsteoarthritis often affects the joint bilaterally, and the single-stage (SS) unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is advantageous in terms of a single anesthesia administration, a short hospital stay, lower medical costs, and enhanced patient convenience. However, the complication risk of SS UKA continues to be debated. The aim of this article was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness, complications, and functional recovery of SS and two-stage (TS) UKA.

METHODSFrom January 2008 to December 2013, we compared a series of 36 SS UKA with 45 TS UKA for osteoarthritis. The mean age was 65.4 years (range: 55-75 years). The mean body mass index was 25.2 kg/m 2 (range: 22-29 kg/m 2 ). The pre- and post-operative Oxford Knee Scores (OKSs), complications, operative times, tourniquet times, the amount of drainage, and hemoglobin (Hb) were evaluated. The Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and paired and grouped t-tests were used in this study.

RESULTSThe mean follow-up was 50 months. No complications of death, fat embolism, deep vein thrombosis, and prosthetic infection were reported. Patients who underwent SS UKA had a shorter cumulative anesthesia time (113.5 vs. 133.0 min, P < 0.01). There were no significant variations between the values of the mean tourniquet time, the amount of drainage, pre- and post-operative Hb in the different groups. No patient required a blood transfusion. No statistical differences were found in the complications between two groups (P > 0.05). At the final follow-up, the mean OKS improved from 39.48 ± 5.69 to 18.83 ± 3.82 (P < 0.01), with no statistical differences between the two groups (P > 0.05). Patients who underwent SS UKA had a faster recovery.

CONCLUSIONSThe single-staged UKA offers the benefits of a single anesthesia administration, reduced total anesthetic time, decreased overall rehabilitation time, and absence of an increase in perioperative mortality or complications compared with the TS bilateral UKA.

Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Operative Time ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; surgery ; Recovery of Function ; Treatment Outcome

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of gossypol acetic acid (GAA) on the proliferation of human mucoepidermoid carcinoma cell line MEC-1 in vitro and its possible molecular mechanisms of DNA double-strand breaks (DSB). MTT assay was performed to test the inhibition of proliferation of MEC-1 cells by GAA. DSB and γH2AX foci formation induced by GAA were detected by neutral comet assay and immunostaining. GAA (5-40 μmol/L) inhibited the growth of MEC-1 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. One of the indexes of comet assay, percentage of head DNA was decreased, however other indexes, including tail length, percentage of tail DNA, tail moment (TM) and Olive tail moment (OTM) were increased when treated with 2.5- 40 μmol/L GAA for 24 h or 20 μmol/L GAA for 3-48 h, compared with those in control. The percentage of γH2AX-positive cells was also increased when MEC-1 was treated with 2.5-20 μmol/L GAA for 24 h or 20 μmol/L GAA for 3-48 h, compared with that in control. All these results show that GAA inhibits the proliferation of MEC-1, and DSB maybe one of the mechanisms of inhibitory effect of GAA on the growth of tumor cells.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid ; genetics ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded ; drug effects ; Gossypol ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Parotid Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology

To investigate the growth and maturation of megakaryocyte progenitors in patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (CITP), plasma clot culture and GPIIIa monoclonal antibody and ABC immuno- histochemical kit were used to assay CFU-Meg and BFU-Meg, and the area and diameter of GPIIIa(+) cells were determined by image analyzer in 33 CITP cases. It was found that CFU-Meg and BFU-Meg were 39.27 +/- 21.44 and 5.62 +/- 3.93 per 2 x 10(5) MNC, respectively, in CITP patients, there were no significant differences with those in control group. While the area of GPIIIa(+) cells was (134.90 +/- 6.08) micro m(2) and diameter was (12.89 +/- 3.66) micro m, those were lower than those in control group. In patients with normal number of megakaryocytes on marrow smears, CFU-Meg and BFU-Meg were 19.43 +/- 7.28 and 4.67 +/- 1.53, respectively, the values were lower as compared to control group. The positive correlation was showed between the total megakaryocytic colonies and the number of megakaryocytes on marrow smears, r = 0.6503, and there was no correlation with blood platelet counts and course of disease. The results suggest that there was a maturation disturbance of megakaryocyte progenitor in CITP patients and lower proliferative potential in patients with normal megakaryocyte counts on marrow smears.

OBJECTIVETo induce primary chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells into dendritic cells (DCs).

METHODSBone marrow mononuclear cells (MNCs) were isolated from 13 CML patients and peripheral blood MNCs from 5 healthy donors. The isolated MNCs were co-cultured with rhGM-CSF 1,000 U/ml, rhIL- 4,500 U/ml and TNF-alpha 50 U/ml for 10 days. The morphological features were observed by Wright's staining,inverted microscope and electron microscope. CD(80), CD(86), CD(83), CD(1a) and HLA-DR expression were assayed by flow cytometry, cytogenetic analysis was performed by fluorescence in-situ hybridization(FISH). The concentration of IL-12 was measured by ELISA and the function of antigen presenting was tested by mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR).

RESULTAfter being cultured with cytokines, the typical dendritic appearance with delicate membrane projections was observed. The CD(80), CD(86), CD(83), CD(1a) and HLA-DR markers and capacity of stimulating allogeneic T cells were upregulated significantly. FISH confirmed that the DCs were generated from leukemic origin and CML DCs could secrete higher level of IL-12 than CML MNCs. There were no differences in morphology and immunophenotype expression between DCs derived from CML and those from normal individuals. However, DCs from CML patients displayed weaker activity than that of normal individuals when tested in MLR.

CONCLUSIONCML cells could be induced into leukemia-DCs by co-culture with cytokines.

Bone Marrow Cells ; immunology ; pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; metabolism ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; immunology ; pathology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured