Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on uterine prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in rats with primary dysmenorrhea (PD) and to discuss the possible mechanism in EA intervening PD. Methods: Forty Sprague-Dawley female rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, an EA group and an ibuprofen group, with 10 rats in each group. The PD model was established using estradiol benzoate combined with oxytocin in the model group, EA group and ibuprofen group. At the same time of modeling, rats in the EA group were given EA at Guanyuan (CV 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) once a day for 20 min each time for 10 consecutive days. Ibuprofen was intragastrically administered once a day for 10 consecutive days in the ibuprofen group. The same amount of normal saline was intragastrically administered once a day for 10 consecutive days in the blank group and model group. The number of writhing of rats in each group within 30 min was compared on the 11th day just after the interventions. The uterine homogenate supernatant was separated and the PGF2α level was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Western blot was applied for the detection of the expression levels of COX-2, phospho-NF-κB p65 and NF-κB p65 proteins in uterine tissues. Results: Compared with the blank group, the number of writhing in the model group increased significantly (P<0.01), and the expression levels of PGF2α, COX-2, phospho-NF-κB p65 and NF-κB p65 proteins in uterine tissues were significantly increased (all P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the number of writhing in the EA group and ibuprofen group were significantly reduced (both P<0.01), and the expression levels of PGF2α and COX-2 protein in uterine tissues were significantly reduced (both P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the phospho-NF-κB p65 level in uterine tissues in the EA group was significantly reduced (P<0.01). Compared with the ibuprofen group, the phospho-NF-κB p65 level in the EA group was significantly reduced (P<0.01). Conclusion: The mechanism of EA for PD rats may be related to inhibiting the phosphorylation of NF-κB and reducing the levels of COX-2 and PGF2α in uterine tissues.

Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hearing Loss ; etiology ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Risk Factors

Objective:To evaluate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C(VEGF-C),Epstein-Barr virus(EBV) latent membrane protein 1(LMP1),cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC).Method:LMP1, COX-2 and VEGF-C were detects by immunohistochemical staining for 57 case NPC tissue.Result:The positives rates of LMP1,COX-2 and VEGF-C detected by immunohistochemical staining were 49.1%(28/57), 75.4%(43/57)and 59.6%(34/57), respectively. The expression of LMP1, COX-2 and VEGF-C were correlated to each1 other in NPC(P<0.05).Conclusion:LMP1 and COX-2 may induce expression of VEGF-C directly or LMP1 induce expression of VEGF-C by induce COX-2 expression, may contribute to lymph metastasis and develop NPC.

Objective To study the impact of physical stimulus on periosteal chondroplasia with an in- tention of reconstructing cartilage tissue that has a biomechanical function and can be created either entirely in vivo or in vitro and subsequently implanted into the patient.Methods A series of biomechanical test methods were designed in order to investigate the mechanical properties of engineered cartilage under a variety of mechanical stress stimulations.The periosteal explants were harvested from proximal medial tibias of New Zealand rabbits and secured onto poly-?-caprolactone(PCL)scaffolds.The composites(periosteum/PCL)were suspended in the spinner flask bioreactor and the spinner flask was located on the stirring machine.The stem cells were stimulated by fluid shear stress under magnetic bar stirring.Results In gross observation,the thickness and length of neo-cartilage with shear force stimulation were significantly greater than those without shear force.The direction of elongation was parallel with fluid flow direction,regardless of composite orientation.Secondary,two different zones based on various cell morphology and distribution were clearly observed.The thickness of the superficial zone was greater in samples exposed to high shear force compared with low shear force.The superficial zone protein and lubricant were found in the engineered cartilage under shear stress stimulation.Conclusion The results reveal that shear stress can not only influence proliferation and differentiation of stem cells,but also change chondrocyte morphology and increase extracellular matrix production.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effectiveness of Yiqi Huoxue Tongyang Xiezhuo Recipe (YHTXR, capable of supplementing qi, activating blood, warming yang, and discharge turbidity) in treating coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (CAHD). and chronic heart failure (CHF) with carotid plaque patients, and to explore new ways of Chinese medicine (CM).

METHODSTotally 69 CAHD-CHF patients of qi deficiency phlegm stasis syndrome (QDPSS) with carotid plaque were recruited in this study using parallel cohort method. They were assigned to the treatment group (35 cases) and the control group (34 cases). Patients in the control group received routine treatment of Western medicine, while those in the treatment group were additionally treated with YHTXR (twice daily). The therapeutic course for all was three months. Cardiac function levels, echocardiography, carotid plaque, blood lipids and safety indicators were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSAfter treatment the improvement of cardiac function levels was better in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Decreased LDL-C levels were higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.01). There was statistical difference in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), LDL-C, TC, TG in the treatment group between before and after treatment (P < 0.05). LDL-C and TG also decreased in the control group after treatment (P <0.05). There was no significant difference in the left ventricular ejection fraction, carotid IMT, or TC in the control group between before and after treatment (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in stroke volume, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, the area of carotid artery plaque, or HDL-C in the two groups between before and after treatment (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSYHTXR could effectively improve cardiac functions of CAHD-CHF patients of QDPSS with carotid plaque, reduce blood lipids and IMT. It had no significant adverse reactions for elderly patients in short term.

Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Coronary Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Heart ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Lipids ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; drug therapy ; Qi ; Ventricular Function, Left

Objective To study the efficacy and safety of tacalcitol combined with monochromatic excimer light (MEL) 308 nm vs MEL 308 nm monotherapy in treating vitiligo.Methods Thirty-eight pa- tients with vitiligo were enrolled in the single-blind clinical trial,using plabebo-treated lesions in the same patient as controls.Contralateral or nearby lesions were randomly selected to be treated by either tacalcitol or placebo.All lesions were treated weekly with MEL 308 nm,for a total of 12 sessions.Patients were ex- amined at monthly intervals.The mean number of sessions and the cumulative dosage for initial and excel- lent repigrnentation were calculated.Results Thirty-five patients were evaluated.The mean?SEM cumu- lative dose and number of MEL exposures for initial repigmentation,respectively,were 4.27?3.59 J/cm~2 and 4.89?3.16 on tacalcitol-treated site,5.36?4.12 J/cm~2 and 5.69?3.29 on placebo-treated site,re- spectively (both P＜0.05).For excellent repigrnentation,the cumulative dose and number of exposures were 7.72?5.64 J/cm~2 and 7.79?4.70 respectively on tacalcitol-treated site,and 8.18?4.87 J/cm~2 and 8.4?3.92 respectively on placebo-treated site (both P＞0.05).Treatment with tacalcitol resulted in a sig- nificantly higher percentage (71.4% vs 54.3%) of repigmentation than that with placebo.Conclusions Our results show that MEL 308 nm is safe and effective for the treatment of vitiligo.Additionally,concur- rent topical tacalcitol potentiates the efficacy of MEL 308 nm in the treatment of vitiligo;this combination achieves more rapid pigmentation with a lower total MEL dosage.

During the process of electroacupuncture (EA) therapy, whether there being a corrosive effect in ac- upuncture needles was observed. Acupuncture needles were inserted into a rabbit's acupoint to perform a 12-hour electrical stimulation with three types of common EA waveform; additionally two needles were put in 0.9% sodium chloride solution with 12-hour direct current. Afterwards, environmental scanning electron microscope was applied to detect the surface physical characteristics of acupuncture needles. As a result, after a 12-hour continued electri- cal stimulation with three types of common EA waveform in the rabbit, there was no corrosive effect in acupunc- ture needles; but the direct current could cause severe corrosion in acupuncture needles. It is believed that there is no corrosion effect on acupuncture needles in current EA treatment, and some accidents reported in literature may be related to quality of EA device or improper manipulation during the treatment.
Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Corrosion ; Electroacupuncture ; instrumentation ; Male ; Needles ; adverse effects ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy differences in early intervention of different acupuncture and moxibustion methods on gastrocnemius fatigue in rats induced by electrical stimulation.

METHODSFifty male SD rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, a hand acupuncture group, an electroacupuncture group and a moxibustion group, 10 rats in each group. Electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve was given in the control group and gastrocnemius fatigue test was induced by electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve in the model group after anesthesia without other treatment, but just take 6 times interval stimulation in the control group. The hand acupuncture group, the electroacupuncture group and the moxibustion group were treated with the corresponding acupoints stimulation method respectively for 20 min before gastrocnemius fatigue test, and Dazhui (GV 14) and Zusanli (ST 36) were selected. Immediately after gastrocnemius fatigue test, three or four gastrocnemius tissues at the same site on the right side were quickly taken for making specimen for transmission electron microscope (TEM). The changes of skeletal muscle ultrastructure of myofibrils, mitochondria, sarcoplasmic reticulum, glycogen particles were observed under TEM.

RESULTS(1) Muscle fibers disorder, partial mitochondrial vacuolization and glycogen particles smaller were shown in the model group. (2) No abnormalities were shown in the hand acupuncture group and the moxibustion group with mitochondrial morphology and number, which better than that in the model group, and glycogen particles increased. (3) Abnormal changes in morphology were shown in the electroacupuncture group with part of the muscle fibers derangement, Z line malalignment and a few mitochondria vacuolization.

CONCLUSIONHand acupuncture, electroacupuncture and moxibustion have the different effects on ultrastructure of gastrocoemius in rats. Acupuncture and moxibustion have shown good effects on the prevention and treatment of exercise-induced skeletal muscle cell and organelle damage and delaying exercise-induced fatigue.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Glycogen ; metabolism ; Male ; Mitochondria ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Moxibustion ; Muscle, Skeletal ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

As the importance of clinical risks management grows hospital management,reducing hospital medical errors for patients safety has become a key quality management process.Failure Mode and effect analysis( FMEA) is a proactive technique for error detection and reduction.In this paper,based on a brief review of it's history of development,described in detail the implementation method and steps of FMEA,mainly introducing the research progress for using FMEA in reducing hospital medical errors.

Objective To assess the clinical outcome of varicose veins with incompetent great saphenous vein(GSV) treated with ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy. Methods Forty limbs with moderate to severe symptomatic varicose veins with incompetent GSV in 38 patients were injected with foam sclerosing agent (Fibro-Vein) under ultrasound guidance. There were 36 patients with unilateral varicose veins and 2 with bilateral varicose veins. No of them suffered from deep vein incompetence or perforating vein incompetence. Second injection was performed one month after the initial injection in 7 limbs. Thirty-eight of 40 limbs were followed up with clinical examination and duplex ultrasound scan 30-47 months (mean 40 months) after the treatment. Results Among 38 limbs with follow-up mild debilitation was found in two limbs(5. 3%). There were no other symptoms or complications. Duplex ultrasound demonstrated four type of results: type I, sclerosed GSV trunk with no detectable venous flow in 32 of 38 limbs (84. 2%) ;type II,patent GSV trunk in 3 limbs (7. 9%) ,two of them had mild reflux in the GSV trunk;type III,sclerosed GSV trunk and mild reflux in the GSV tributaries, 1/38(2. 6%) ; type IV,sclerosed proximal GSV trunk,patent distal GSV communicated with a superficial vein and mild reflux in the veins, 2/38 (5. 3% ). Conclusions Clinical examination and duplex ultrasound scan demonstrated excellent results of varicose veins with incompetent GSV treated with ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy 40 months after the treatment. Sclerotherapy is less invasive treatment option for varicose veins with incompetent GSV with satisfactory clinical and cosmetic outcome.