Objective:To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods:A total of 30 eligible cases were treated by needling Shenting (GV 24), Baihui (GV 20), Dazhui (GV 14), Fengfu (GV 16), Mingmen (GV 1) and Yongquan (KI 1). Upon arrival of qi, the G6805-II electric stimulator was connected to Shenting (GV 24) and Baihui (GV 20) (one pair), to Dazhui (GV 14) and Fengfu (GV 16) (one pair) and to bilateral Yongquan (KI 1) (one pair) for 25 min, using continuous wave at the frequency of 2-100 Hz and voltage of 2-4 V. With a tolerable intensity, the EA was conducted once a day for 10 d (one treatment course). There was a 3-day interval between two courses. After three courses, the therapeutic efficacies were evaluated using the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), revised Hasegawa dementia scale (HDS-R), activities of daily living (ADL) and neurological function defect scale (NFDS). Results:After EA treatment, the MMSE and HDS-R scores were significantly increased (P<0.01) and the ADL and NFDS scores were significantly decreased (P<0.01). Conclusion:EA is effective for AD and can improve the overall intelligence and repair neurologic deficits in AD patients.

Objective The construction of suicide plasmid vector could be used to make mutation of pgm gene which attenuates the virulent of Brucella melitensis strain 16, the research may lay a foundation for the development of novel live attenuated vaccines. Methods Sucrose sensitive gene as forward screening sign and fusion sequences of kanamycin resistance gene were constructed based on plasmid pucl9; pucS1.6K suicide plasmid vector was established by modifying pgm gene with fusion sequences of kanamycin resistance gene (insertion mutation); pgm gene mutation of Brucella melitensis strain 16 was obtained by electro transformation and mutation was confirmed by PCR amplification. Results The results showed that the identified Brucella melitensis strain 16 pgm gene was inactivated after insertion of kanamycin resistance gene, and the mutant pgm gene DNA fragment length was approximately 3525 bp, in line with expectations, Brucella pgm gene mutant melitensis strain 16 was successfully constructed. Conclusions The construction of suicide plasmid vector and precise mutation of Brucella melitensis strain 16 is successful, the study is not only provided an effective technology platform for constructing mutants of Brucella but also lays a foundation for the development of novel live attenuated vaccines.

Although previous reports showed drug-eluting stent (DES) could effectively inhibit neointima formation, in-stent restenosis (ISR) remains an important obstacle. The purpose of this study was to investigate different effects of paclitaxel on proliferation and cell cycle regulators between vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and vascular endothelial cells (VECs) of rats in vitro. The cultured VSMCs and VECs of rats from the same tissues were examined by using immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry and Western blotting in control and paclitaxel-treated groups. The results showed paclitaxel could effectively inhibit proliferation of VSMCs and VECs. However, as compared with VECs, proliferation of VSMCs in paclitaxel-treated group decreased less rapidly. The percentage of cells in G0-G1 and G2-M phases was reduced, and that in S phase increased after treatment for 72 h. The expression of cyclin D1 and B1, p27 and PCNA in VSMCs of paclitaxel-treated group was up-regulated, but that of p21 down-regulated as compared with VECs. It is concluded that there are significant differences in the expression of cell cycle regulators and proliferation rate between paclitaxel-treated VSMCs and paclitaxel-treated VECs, suggesting that the G1-S checkpoint regulated by paclitaxel may play a critical role in the development of complications of DES, which provides new strategies for treatments of ISR.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) on Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods: A total of 50 AD patients were randomly allocated into a Western medication (WM) group (n=25) and an acupuncture plus medication (APM) group (n=25). Patients in the WM group took oral huperzine A capsules. In addition to huperzine A capsules, patients in the APM group also received EA at Shenting (GV 24), Baihui (GV 20), Dazhui (GV 14), Fengfu (GV 16), Mingmen (GV 4) and Yongquan (KI 1). The needles on the above points were connected to G6805-Ⅱelectric stimulator [3 pairs: Shenting (GV 24) and Baihui (GV 20); Dazhui (GV 14) and Fengfu (GV 16); and bilateral Yongquan (KI 1)]. The needles were retained 25 min. The treatment was done once a day, and 10 times made up a course of treatment. The patients received a total of 3 treatment courses. There was a 3-day interval between two courses. The mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and Hasegawa dementia scale revised (HDS-R) were conducted before and after treatment. The clinical efficacies were evaluated when the treatment was completed. Results: Before treatment, there were no between-group statistical differences in MMSE and HDS-R scores (both P>0.05). After treatment, the MMSE and HDS-R scores in the APM group were significantly higher than those in the WM group (both P<0.05). The total effective rate in the APM group was 88.0%, versus 76.0% in the WM group, showing a statistical difference (P<0.05). Conclusion: EA is effective for AD and can improve clinical symptoms in AD patients.

Objective　To investigate the surgical management of a gun shot wound of blood vessels and immersied, and evaluate its primary effect. Methods　100 rabbits were divided randomly into simple wounded group(SWG,n=50) and seawater immersion group(SIG,n=50).F emoral arteries were impacted by 0.38 gram steel spheres with velocity of 600 ～800 meters per second fired by 7.62 mm rifle. Animals in SIG were immersed in artificial seawater (pH 8.2～8.4, salinity 25.4,temperature 21℃) for 60 min, o f which those in SWG were spared. Grossly injuried artery was excised and restor ation of blood flow was reconstructed by end-to-end anastomosis or reversed au togenous venous grafting or cryopreserved arterial allografting. At 24 h,7,1 4,21 days after operation, blood flow was examined by Doppler ultrasonic detecti on and part of anastomotic sites and graft were collected for pathological obser vation. Results　In completely transected injury, the patency in SIG was 80.00%,while that in SWG was 86.67% in the first 3 weeks. In arterial c ontused injury ,patency in SIG was 86.67%,and that in SWG was 82.35% at the same time. Thrombosis occurred mostly in the first postoperative week. Atypical endo thelial cells were found at the anastomosis sites in the first postoperative week, and the anastomosis sites were lined with endothelium in 3 weeks postopera tively. Conclusion　Early curative effect could be obtained. Whe n grossly injuried artery is excised and followed by a routine surgical procedur e in the treating gunshot wounds immersed in seawater.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and adverse reaction of total glucosides of paeony (TGP) combined with sulfasalazine (SSZ) in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

METHODSSixty-seven AS patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups: the treatment group (34 cases) treated with TGP and SSZ, the control group (33 cases) with methotrexate (MTX) and SSZ. Changes of clinical efficacy related indexes including lumber pain index, morning stiffness time, peripheral joint pain index, thoracic expansion, Schober test, Bath AS disease active index (BASDAI), Bath AS functional index (BASFI), the levels of erythrocyte sedimentation (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP), and X-ray of sacroiliac joint were observed.

RESULTSThe clinical efficacy indexes were significantly improved after treatment in the two groups (P < 0.05). Except that the improvement of lumber pain index and peripheral joint pain index was better in the treatment group than that in the control group (P < 0.05), no significant difference was found in the other indexes between the two groups. The occurrence of adverse reation was less in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTGP treatment combined with SSZ shows favorable effect on AS with less and milder adverse reaction.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antirheumatic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Glucosides ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; drug therapy ; Sulfasalazine ; therapeutic use

For many years, the major concerns in the treatment of a major burn injury have always been shock resuscitation, infection control, and wound treatment, while nutrition has been considered as a subordinate concern. The concept of nutrition in the treatment of a major burn has been recognized as "nutrition support", only with the purpose of restraining negative nitrogen balance through administration of energy and protein, in order to prevent malnutrition in patients with severe burn. In recent 10 years, however, increasing evidences have showed that optimal nutritional management could improve the outcome of severe burn patients. Now it is recognized that nutrition is not only to provide exogenous nutrients to improve nutritional status of the patients, but also to regulate cell metabolism, enhance cell activity, maintain and uphold the structure and function of the gastrointestinal mucosa, thus to improve patient's outcome. Therefore, the term of "nutrition support"seems to be far from comprehensiveness to reflect the purpose and the aim of this important treatment strategy. Medical literatures especially those in nutritional guidelines have begun to use the term of "nutrition therapy" instead of "nutrition support", which typifies the changes in nutritional concept, aim, means, and clinical evaluation. The aim of nutrition has changed from simply "providing nutritional substrate and improving nutritional status of patients" to "regulating cell metabolism, maintaining organ structure and function, and ultimately improving outcome of patient". Meanwhile, nutritional means has been more consummate, including special nutrients, hormones, and growth factors, in addition to use of conventional nutrients, in order to enhance therapeutic effect of nutrition in treatment of massive burn injury. Burn nutrition is no longer confined to maintenance of positive nitrogen balance, it should also consider the regulation of cell activity, metabolic status, immune and organ function. The purpose of the article is to analyze and discuss the important issues concerning nutrition therapy in treatment of burn injury, including risk screening, optimal energy supply and ratio of different nutritional ingredients, the choice of special nutrient, as well as the determination of optimal time for giving various nutritional supplements.
Burns ; therapy ; Humans ; Nutrition Therapy ; Nutritional Status ; Nutritional Support

Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy is a serious clinical problem for patients receiving cancer treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential efficacy of pregabalin in chemotherapy-induced neuropathy in rats. A total of 35 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: group 1, naive control; group 2, treated with pregabalin (30 mg/kg p.o., for 8 days); group 3, docetaxel was given by single intravenous infusion at 10 mg/kg; groups 4 and 5, pregabalin at 10 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg respectively was orally administered for 8 days after the docetaxel treatment. On day 8, behavioral test was performed, and substance P and CGRP release in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and sciatic nerve were analyzed by electron microscope. Our results showed that docetaxel induced mechanical allodynia, mechanical hyperalgesia, heat hypoalgesia, cold allodynia, and sciatic nerve impairment and substance P and CGRP release in DRG. However, oral administration of pregabalin (10 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg) for 8 consecutive days significantly attenuated docetaxel-induced neuropathy by ameliorating heat hypoalgesia, cold allodynia, impairment of sciatic nerve and reducing the release of substance P and CGRP. The findings in the present study reveal that pregabalin may be a potential treatment agent against chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the surgical treatment methods and evaluate the outcome of gunshot wounds combining with seawater immersion in rabbits' femoral arteries.

METHODSOne hundred healthy New Zealand white rabbits (either sex, 3.14 kg+/-0.61 kg in weight) were randomly divided into a seawater immersion group (n=50) and a simple injury group (n=50). The unilateral femoral arteries of all the rabbits were injured by 0.38 g steel spheres with velocity of 600-800 m/s fired by a 7.62 mm rifle. The rabbits in the seawater immersion group were immersed in seawater (saline content of 2.54%, pH 8.2-8.4, and at 21 degrees C) for 60 minutes but those in the simple injury group were not. After the injured segment (observed by naked eyes) of the femoral artery was excised, the blood flow restoration was reconstructed by direct end-to-end anastomosis, reversed autogenous venous grafting or cryopreserved arterial allografting, according to the length of the arterial defects. At 24 hours, and 7, 14 and 21 days after operation, the blood flow was examined. Operative exploration was performed for the animals with partly or fully obstructed blood flow. The tissues around the anastomosis sites and the grafts were harvested for pathological observation under a light microscope and an electron microscope.

RESULTSIn the rabbits with completely transected injury, the unobstructed rates in the first 3 weeks after operation were 80.00% in the seawater immersion group and 86.67% in the single injury group, and no significant difference was found between the two groups (P>0.1). In the rabbits with arterial contusion injury, the unobstructed rates in the first 3 weeks after operation were 86.67% in the seawater immersion group and 82.35% in the single injury group, and no significant difference was found between the two groups (P>0.1). Most thrombosis occurred in the first operative week. Atypical endothelial cells were detected at the anastomosis sites at the first operative week, and the anastomosis sites were lined with endothelial cells in 3 weeks postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONSDuring the surgical treatment for gunshot wounds combining with seawater immersion, resection of the grossly-injured artery and routine artery reconstruction can obtain satisfactory outcome. Homologous artery is a kind of vascular graft with certain applied value.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Femoral Artery ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; pathology ; surgery ; Hydrotherapy ; methods ; Male ; Rabbits ; Radiography ; Random Allocation ; Seawater ; Treatment Outcome ; Wound Healing ; Wounds, Gunshot ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate pathological characteristics of gunshot wounds concomitant seawater immersion in rabbits' femoral arteries.

METHODSThirty rabbits were divided randomly into 3 groups: simple gunshot-wound group (Group I, n = 10), gunshot wound with seawater immersion for 30 mins (Group II, n = 10), and 60 mins group (Group III, n = 10). Femoral arteries were impacted by 0.38 g steel spheres fired with a 7.62 mm rifle. After being wounded, rabbits in Groups II and III were immersed in seawater for 30 or 60 mins, but those in Group I were not. At 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 hours following injury, a 40 mm segment of the artery on each side of the gunshot point were excised and observed by light and electron microscopy.

RESULTSThe patterns of arterial injuries were mainly contusion and transection. Completely transected artery was classified as primary-wound-tract area, contused area and shocked area. Compared with those in Group I, the primary-wound-tract and contused areas in Group II manifested obvious swelling in the arterial wall especially at the outside 2/3 of the media. Vacuolar structures were often seen in smooth muscle cells of the media. Intercellular space among the smooth muscle cells were filled with homogeneous acidophilic substances. Deep rugae among endothelial cells flattened or rugal folds lost their longitudinal orientation, and marked fibrin and platelet deposition were noticed. No significant difference was detected between Group II and III. The pathological changes in the shocked area were similar in 3 groups.

CONCLUSIONSFor gunshot wounds concomitant seawater immersion in rabbits' femoral arteries, there was a marked swelling of cells and intercellular space in primary-wound-tract area and contusion area. The influence of these pathological changes on surgical reparation deservers further study.

Animals ; Biopsy, Needle ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Femoral Artery ; injuries ; pathology ; Immersion ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Seawater ; adverse effects ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Wound Healing ; physiology ; Wounds, Gunshot ; microbiology ; pathology