Objective: To investigate the role of anterior part of commissural subnucleus of nucleus tractus solitarius (acNTS) injury in insulin-resistant hyperglycemia during chronic restraint stress (CRS). Methods: We produced the CRS models (n = 20, a 7-day restraint followed by a 3-day free moving procedure for 40 days) in rats, and detected the parameters related to glucose metabolism. Results: The CRS induced a moderate (not higher than 11 mmol/L) and irreversible insulin-resistant hyperglycemia in about 1/3 (n = 7) of the individuals. CRS-hyperglycemic rats showed a condensed staining of acNTS neurons, and Caspase-3 immunostaining and TUNEL also showed positive, indicating apoptotic changes of acNTS neurons. After acNTS mechanical damage (n= 6), the blood glucose level rised gradually, which also led to insulin-resistant hyperglycemia. The characteristics of hyperinsulinemia, increased islet volume, and serum corticosterone levels in acNTS mice were consistent with those of CRS mice. Conclusion: The result indicates that during CRS, injury (apoptosis) of glucose-sensitive acNTS neurons causes dysregulation of blood glucose. Restraint stress model has value as a potential application in the study of stress-induced hyperglycemia.

Objective: To observe the improving effect of muscle regions of meridians needling method on the upper limb function in children with cerebral palsy of spastic hemiplegic type. Methods: A total of 100 children with cerebral palsy of spastic hemiplegia type were divided into a treatment group and a control group according to the visiting sequence, with 50 cases in each group. The control group was treated with conventional rehabilitation plus conventional acupuncture treatment. The treatment group was treated with conventional rehabilitation plus muscle regions of meridians needling method. The electromyography (EMG) signal values of triceps brachii and pronator teres were detected before treatment, and 3 months and 6 months after treatment. The clinical efficacy was evaluated by Peabody developmental motor scale-fine motor (PDMS-FM) and fine motor function measure (FMFM). Results: Three and six months after treatment, the EMG signal values of triceps brachii and pronator teres, grasping scores and visual-motor integrated scores of PDMS-FM and the FMFM scores in both groups increased to varying degrees compared with the same group before treatment, and the intra-group differences were all statistically significant (all P<0.05). Six months after treatment, the results of the above three items in the treatment group were all better than those in the control group, and the differences between the groups were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Muscle regions of meridians needling method added on the basis of conventional rehabilitation can effectively reduce the muscle tone of upper limb and enhance the muscle strength, and improve the upper limb function in children with cerebral palsy of spastic hemiplegia type. The efficacy is superior to that of the conventional rehabilitation plus conventional acupuncture treatment.

By a targeting-delivery system, drugs are delivered and concentrated in a local district such as target tissues, organs, cells or a special district of cells to avoid harm to healthy tissues. Curcumin has various pharmacological activities, but the clinical application of curcumin is severely limited by its main drawbacks including instability, low solubility and poor bioavailability. Recently curcurnin-targeting dosage forms which improved the curcumin bioavailability surged. In this article, the new targeting-delivery systems and their use in curcumin delivery mainly including liposomes, ligand-receptors, magnetic iron oxides and other systems are reviewed in design methodologies and bioactive effects. Advantages and disadvantages for the target-delivery systems are discussed.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of needling thirteen ghost acupoints for children with autism spectrum disorder. Methods:A total of 90 cases with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) aged between 2 and 6 years were randomly allocated into 2 groups by random number table. The control group (n=45) received routine rehabilitative training, and the treatment group (n=45) received acupuncture at thirteen ghost acupoints plus routine rehabilitative training. The Beijing Gesell developmental (Gesell) scale and autism behavior checklist (ABC) were used to assess the intellectual, language and behavior development before and 3 months after the treatment. Results:After the treatment, the total effective rate in the treatment group was 82.2%, versus 55.6% in the control group, showing a statistical significance (P<0.05). As for the scores of social, emotional and language in Gesell scale, there were significant intra-group differences in the treatment group (allP<0.05), and all the five subscales in the Gesell scale in the treatment group were significantly better than those in the control group (allP<0.05). As for the scores of ABC, there were significant intra-group differences in the treatment group (P<0.05), and the scores in the treatment group were significantly better than those in the control group (allP<0.05). Conclusion: Rehabilitation training plus acupuncture at thirteen ghost acupoints can significantly improve the intellectual, language and abnormal behavior in autism spectrum disorder children.

Objective To characterize the immunogenicity in gene immunization of the conserved regions of hepatitis C virus(HCV) based on different delivery strategies. Methods We first constructed a novel DNA vaccine encoding a fusion gene(from partial NS3 and Core) of HCV. Then we compared different protocols based on naked DNA injection twice or DNA injection with gene electrotransfer(GET) in BALB/c mice. The immune response was measured by antibody ELISA and by IFN-gamma ELISPOT. Results Our data showed that a protocol based on intradermally injection of DNA with optimal GET induced the strongest humoral and cellular immunity, and DNA with GET induced a substantially higher anti-NS3/Core T cell re-spoase than naked DNA injection. Conclusion Our data suggest that DNA vaccines encoding NS3/Core fu-sion protein of HCV immunized by the present strategy could merit further study in the context of future prophylactic and therapeutic HCV T cell based vaccines.

In the present study, shRNA plasmid of pSi-p21 targeting p21 mRNA was constructed and the effect of p21 shRNA on curcumin-induced apoptosis of human hepatoma Huh7 cells was investigated. The effect of curcumin on the expression of p21 mRNA and protein and the silence efficiency of pSi-p21 were detected with RT-PCR and Western blotting. The effect of pSi-p21 on curcumin-induced apoptosis of Huh7 cells was evaluated with DAPI staining. The results showed that curcumin significantly upregulated p21 mRNA and protein expression, which was knocked down by pSi-p21 of Huh7 cells. DAPI staining results showed that pSi-p21 significantly decreased curcumin-induced apoptosis of Huh7 cells. The data suggested that curcumin induced apoptosis of Huh7 cells via upregulation of p21 expression.
Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Plasmids ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transfection ; Up-Regulation

The effect of curcumin on JAK-STAT signaling pathway was investigated in hepatoma cell lines Huh7 and Hep3B. Curcumin inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis of both cell lines, but Huh7 cells were more sensitive to curcumin than Hep3B cells. Curcumin (50 micromol x L(-1)) significantly increased phosphorylations of p38 (T180/Y182) and STAT-1 (S727) in Huh7 and Hep3B cells, and caused relocalization of phosphorylated-STAT-1 (Y701) from cytoplasm to nucleus in Hep3B cells. In addition, curcumin (25 and 50 micromol x L(-1)) dramatically suppressed the phosphorylation level of STAT-1 (Y701) and resulted in a significant reduction of nuclear phosphorylated-STAT-1 (Y701) in Huh7 cells.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Curcuma ; chemistry ; Curcumin ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Janus Kinases ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phosphorylation ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; STAT1 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

Objective To explore the effect of Jian Zu San Zhen acupuncture on tip foot in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Methods From January to December, 2016, 120 children with spastic cerebral palsy aged one to six years were randomly divided into control group (n=60) and observation group (n=60). Both groups were treated with conventional rehabilitation, while the observation group added Jian Zu San Zhen acupuncture. They were evaluated with Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), foot dorsiflexion angle and surface electromyog-raphy. Results After treatment, the scores of GMFM in B, C, D and E dimensions and the total score significantly increased in the observa-tion group (t>4.325, P<0.001), and were higher than that of the control group (t>2.711, P<0.01);the foot dorsiflexion angle significantly de-creased in the observation group (t=17.627, P<0.001), and was significantly less than that of the control group (t=15.416, P<0.001). The root mean square (RMS) of surface electromyography of gastrocnemius muscle under active plantarflexion and passive dorsiflexion of ankle joint improved after treatment (t≥3.058, P<0.01), and was better in the observation group than in the control group (t=-2.199, P<0.05). Conclusion Jian Zu San Zhen acupuncture can effectively reduce the gastrocnemius muscle tension, and do not reduce the gastrocnemius muscle strength, which could also improve the ability of foot flexion, and facilitate to recover the function of standing and moving.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the Sal I, Nru I and Mse I restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) of factor IX gene in Chinese Han people. The frequencies of FIX-192 and FIX-793 for A and G, and FIX-698 for T and C were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in unrelated normal Chinese Han people. A sample of 214, 210 and 206 unrelated X chromosomes were analyzed for FIX-192 and FIX-793 and FIX-698, respectively. The results showed that the frequencies for FIX-192 were 0.878 for A and 0.122 for G, with a heterozygosity rate of 0.213, and the frequencies for FIX-793 were 0.552 for A and 0.448 for G, with a heterozygosity rate of 0.494, the frequencies for FIX-698 were 0.311 for T and 0.689 for C, with a heterozygosity rate of 0.429. It was concluded that the SalIand NruI and MseI RFLPs of FIX gene may be useful markers for carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis in Chinese families with hemophilia B patients.
China ; DNA ; genetics ; metabolism ; Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific ; metabolism ; Factor IX ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical features of Epstein-Barr virus-related hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (EBV-HLH), to analysis the outcome of HLH-2004 protocol, and to explore the prognostic factors in EBV-HLH patients.

METHODSThe clinical features at onset and outcome of HLH-2004 protocol from 83 pediatric patients with EBV-HLH enrolled from January 2006 to December 2009 in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Univariate and multivariate COX regression analysis were used to identify statistically significant prognostic factors.

RESULTS(1) Among the 83 patients, 45 were males and 38 were females. The age of onset ranged from 6 months to 14 years 4 months. 44 patients were treated with HLH-2004, and 3-year overall survival (OS) was (55.8 ± 7.9)%. (2) The most common clinical features of EBV-HLH included high fever, cytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, and coagulopathy; The respiratory symptoms, angina phlogistic, skin rashes, neurologic abnormality were rare. 97.3% of patients showed an elevation of serum ferritin, liver dysfunction and lipid metabolism disorders was found in most of EBV-HLH patients. 89.0% of patient had hemophagocytosis in bone marrow at diagnosis of EBV-HLH. (3) COX regression analysis revealed that anemia degree, serum albumin < 30 g/L, CD4:CD8 abnormity, NK cell < 3%, treatment protocol were related with the prognosis significantly (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEBV-HLH in pediatric patients has severe clinical feature and poor prognosis. HLH-2004 protocol is an effective treatment for patients with EBV-HLH. Symptomatic treatment can't rescue the patients of EBV-HLH.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; drug therapy ; Female ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Infant ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Male ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome