OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of acupuncture along affected meridian on the mem- brane metallo-endopeptidase (MME) gene expression of migraine patients without aura (MO) of Gan-yang hyperactivity syndrome (GYHS).

METHODSTotally 20 MO patients of GYHS were randomly assigned to the acupoint group (acupuncture along affected meridian) and the non-acupoint group, 10 cases in each group. Needling was performed once per day for 10 consecutive days. Gene chip technology was used to obtain two sets of gene expression profiles and analyzed using Gene Ontology (GO).

RESULTSIn the acupoint group, MME gene expression decreased after needling (P = 0.0023).That gene was rich in the beta-amyloid metabolic process (P = 3.16E-05) and the peptide metabolic process (P = 0.009612). Its expression was not seen in the non-acupoint group.

CONCLUSIONThe effect of point selection along affected meridian could be achieved possibly by regulating the MME gene expression.

Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Endrin ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Humans ; Meridians ; Migraine Disorders ; therapy ; Syndrome

No abstract available.
Neodymium* ; Onychomycosis* ; Pilot Projects*

OBJECTIVETo study the impact of organized stroke ward on the therapeutic effect in stroke patients.

METHODSA total of 2637 patients with acute stroke were randomly assigned to organized stroke ward or the general ward for treatment, and the rates of mortality, nonrecovery, improvement, and recovery were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe rates of mortality, nonrecovery, improvement, and recovery in 5 years were 2.00%, 0.90%, 74.94% and 22.16% respectively in the organized stroke ward group, as compared to 3.26%, 1.02%, 74.01% and 21.71% in the general ward group, respectively. The mortality rate was significantly lower in organized stroke ward (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found in the rates of nonrecovery, improvement, or recovery between the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONAdmission of the stroke patients in organized stroke ward for treatment can be associated with lowered mortality rate.

Female ; Hospital Units ; standards ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Male ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Patient Care Team ; organization & administration ; Stroke ; mortality ; therapy ; Stroke Rehabilitation ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To investigate the effect of botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) on Nav1.3 sodium channels and the function of sodium current in neuropathic pain.Methods:Eighteen adult rats had a spared nerve injury (SNI) induced and then were randomly divided into a saline group and a BoNT/A group, each of 9. Another 9 rats formed a fake operation group, Five days after the SNI, BoNT/A (7U/kg or 15U/kg) or saline was subcutaneously administered into the plantar surface of a hindpaw. On the 3rd, 7th and 14th day after the injection, the SNI rats′ paw withdrawal threshold was measured. On the 7th and 14th day the expression of Nav1.3 protein in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons was examined using western blotting, while any change in the functional tetrodotoxin-sensitive (TTX-S) current was recorded using the patch clamp technique.Results:Administration of BoNT/A at either 7U/kg or 15U/kg significantly increased the SNI-induced mechanical allodynia. The expression of Nav1.3 protein in DRG neurons increased significantly after the SNI, but had decreased significantly by the 7th and 14th day after the administration of BoNT/A. BoNT/A significantly decreased the current density in TTX-S sodium channels in DRG neurons following SNI.Conclusion:Administration of BoTN/A affects the expression of Nav1.3 protein and functional TTX-S current, relieving neuropathic pain.

ObJective To summarize the microsurgieal techniques through direct Sylvian fissure approach. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted in 62 patients undergoing microsurgeries through direct Sylvian fissure approach, including 4 with cavernous angioma in the Sylvian fissure, 5 with insular lobe tumors, 33 with middle cerebral artery aneurysms, 15 with glioma spanning or invading the Sylvian fissure, 1 with metastatic tumor, 2 with arteriovenous malformations, and 2 with temporal lobe epilepsy. Results All the vascular lesions were exposed satisfactorily and managed appropriately. Of the 19 cases ofgliomas and metastatic tumors, total resection was achieved in 13 cases, and subtotal resection in 6 cases. Transient aphasia or hemiparesis occurred postoperatively in a few patients but all recovered within 1 or two months. Conclusions The Sylvian fissure provides a good surgical route as a subarachnoid space between the frontal, parietal, temporal and insular lobes. The Sylvian fissure should be carefully separated under the operating microscope with high-power magnification, and tension-free retaction is critical in important language areas. In the management of tumors involving the Sylvian fissure, we recommend that extended resection be performed after exposure and appropriate preservation of important blood vessels in the fissure.

OBJECTIVETo provide right time points in selection of right aged animals and the normal physiological data of TX mice.

METHODS7-12 months old TX and DL mice were studied, each group contained 3 female and 3 male mice of TX or DL mice. The concentration of copper in the serum, dry tissues (liver, brain and kidney), together with copper biochemistry indexes were measured. The liver histopathology was observed under light microscopy and electron microscope.

RESULTSTransaminase increased significantly only in 10 and 11-month- old (AST(TX10) = 218.3 U/L, AST(TX11) = 197.5 U/L, AST(DL10) = 171.5 U/L, AST(DL11) = 165.0 U/L, P(10) less than 0.001, P(11) = 0.022), but the copper concentration of liver, brain and kidney was significantly increased during 7-12 month old (the average concentration of copper, Liver(TX) = (750.0 +/- 85.5) mg/kg, Brain(TX) = (39.7 +/- 2.2)mg/kg, Kidney(TX) = (29.8 +/- 5.0) mg/kg, Liver(DL) = (11.6 +/- 1.5) mg/kg, Brain(DL) = (16.8 +/- 0.9) mg/kg, Kidney(DL) = (14.2 +/- 1.0) mg/kg, t = 21.16, 23.60, 7.47, for all these organs P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTX mice is a suitable model of liver disease with natural recovery, so selecting animal model of suitable time point is very important.

Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Brain ; metabolism ; Ceruloplasmin ; metabolism ; Copper ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Diseases ; blood ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo prepare nanoparticles containing E1A gene and observe the efficiency and feasibility of transfecting E1A gene into human undifferentiated thyroid cancer cell line HTC/3. To examine the sensitivity of transgene cells to X-ray and X-ray-induced apoptosis in those cells.

METHODSNanoparticle-DNA complex was prepared with PLGA coating adenoviral early expression gene E1A, and the package efficiency, release progress in vitro, and size of the complex were determined. The nanoparticle-DNA was transfected into the HTC/3 cells. Lipofectamine was used to transfect E1A gene as a control. RT-PCR was used to examine E1A gene mRNA expression in the transfected cells. The survival ratio of HTC/3-E1A and control cells, and the growth inhibition ratio induced by different doses of X-ray in HTC/3-E1A cells were examined by MTT assay. The apoptosis in HTC/3-E1A cells induced by 2 Gy X-ray iradiation was examined by flow cytometry and DNA electrophoresis.

RESULTSThe package efficiency, release progress in vitro, and size of the nanoparticle-DNA complex were 0.78%, 18 days, and 150-280 nm, respectively when transfected the plasmid at the same level, the nanoparticle group got more positive transgene cell clones than that in lipofectamine group, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). RT-PCR showed that transgenic cells from both nanoparticle-DNA and lipofectamine groups had E1A gene mRNA expression. The HTC/3-E1A cells grew slowly, and their doubling time was prolongated (1.44 times in comparison with that in parental cells). According to IC50, the sensitivity of HTC/3-E1A cells to X-ray was improved 2.9 and 2.8 times, respectively, in comparison with that in HTC/3-Vect and HTC/3 cells. The ratio of subG0/G1 phase of HTC/3-E1A cells was significantly higher than that in HTC/3-Vect and HTC/3 cells (P < 0.01). The ratio of S phase of HTC/3-E1A cells was significantly lower than that in HTC/3-Vect and HTC/3 cells (P < 0.01). A typical DNA ladder pattern of apoptosis in HTC/3-E1A cells was observed by electrophoresis, but not found in HTC/3-Vect and HTC/3 cells.

CONCLUSIONA nanoparticle-DNA complex has been successfully prepared, and it may carry a foreign gene into cells. The sensitivity of HTC/3-E1A cells to X-ray is significantly improved. Moreover, apoptosis is induced by x-ray in the E1A gene-transfected cells.

Adenovirus E1A Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; physiology ; Apoptosis ; radiation effects ; Cell Cycle ; radiation effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; DNA ; genetics ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; chemistry ; Nanoparticles ; Particle Size ; Plasmids ; Polyglycolic Acid ; chemistry ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transfection ; X-Rays

OBJECTIVETo study the antiangiogenetic and tumor inhibitory effects of endostatin (Es) by intratumoral versus intravenous administration combined with adriamycin (Adm) for treatment of transplanted tumor in mice.

METHODSForty mice were subjected to subcutaneous implantation of H22 cells and randomly divided into 4 groups by the body weight when the tumor diameter reached 1 cm, namely the control group (with intratumoral and intravenous injection of normal saline), Es intratumoral group (with intratumoral injection Es and intraperitoneal Adm injection), Es vein group (with intravenous Es injection and intraperitoneal Adm injection), and Adm group (with intratumoral saline injection and intraperitoneal Adm injection). The tumor volumes and tumor inhibition rates were calculated, and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the microvessel density (MVD) of the tumors were examined, with the survival time of the mice also observed.

RESULTSThe tumor volume was smaller in Es intratumoral group than in the other groups (P<0.05). The expression of VEGF and M VD in Es intratumoral group was significantly decreased as compared with that in the other groups (P<0.05). The survival time was significantly longer in Es intratumoral group and Es vein group than in the other groups (P<0.05), but showed no significant difference between Es intratumoral group and Es vein group (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn combination with Adm regimen, Es given intratumoral injection produces better effect than intravenous Es injection against angiogenesis and tumor growth, no significant difference can be found in the survival time between them.

Administration, Intravenous ; Animals ; Doxorubicin ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Endostatins ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Injections, Intralesional ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

OBJECTIVETo determine whether the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene silencing could be effectively induced by PCR-derived siRNA expression cassettes (SEC) transfected by the fifth generation polyamidoamine dendrimer (G5 PAMAM-D) in Tca8113 cells.

METHODSFour SEC were rationally designed and constructed based on a two-step PCR reaction. The SEC were then transferred into Tca8113 cells using G5 PAMAM-D, and hTERT expression was investigated by real-time fluorescence-quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR and western blot analysis.

RESULTSThe RNA interference effects of the SEC targeted for varying hTERT mRNA positions showed a significant disparity. Among them, SEC-A revealed the most potent inhibitory effects (above 95% of reduction), followed by SEC-D and SEC-C, and SEC-B had no effect on hTERT expression (P > 0.05). That the endogenous hTERT gene silencing induced by G5 PAMAM dendrimer-mediated SEC-A was highly sequence-specific, and multiple transfection as well as properties of the vectors were routinely attributable to the specific suppression.

CONCLUSIONSSpecific inhibition of endogenous hTERT expression by use of a PCR-based short hairpin siRNA technique and dendrimer transfer system may serve as a novel strategy for treatment of tongue cancers expressing hTERT in vitro.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; enzymology ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Telomerase ; genetics ; Tongue Neoplasms ; enzymology ; genetics ; Transfection

BACKGROUNDSimultaneous liver and kidney transplantation (SLKT) has been proven to be a favorable treatment for combined renal and hepatic end-stage disease. However, recipients receiving SLKT have a long medical history, poor general condition that is often accompanied by anemia, hypoalbuminemia, coagulopathy, water-electrolyte imbalance and acid-base disorders. This study aimed to explore the indications, surgical techniques, therapeutic experience, prevention and treatment of postoperative complications of SLKT.

METHODSThe clinical data of 22 SLKTs cases performed at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2001 to December 2008 were retrospectively studied. Indications for SLKT, surgical techniques, perioperative fluid management, immunosuppressive regimen and experience in prevention and treatment of postoperative complications were analyzed.

RESULTSAll operations were successfully performed. Postoperative complications occurred in 13 cases (59.1%), including pleural effusions (7), intra-abdominal bleeding (2), biliary complications (2), repeated upper gastrointestinal bleeding (1), and acute liver graft rejection (1). All complications were treated conservatively. In this study, there were five deaths during follow-up, in which three perioperative deaths occurred due to serious conditions. Mortality at 3 months was 13.6%. The one and three year patient survival rate was 81.3% and 73.9% respectively.

CONCLUSIONSSLKT is an effective therapy for end-stage liver disease with chronic renal failure or severe damage to renal function. It is a complex surgical procedure, causing a large disturbance of circulation and fluid balance, and more postoperative complications. The SLKT surgical techniques selected are based on the experience of surgeons, the anatomy of the recipient and primary diseases. It is essential to use the correct perioperative fluid management, reasonable immunosuppressive regimen, and prevention and treatment of postoperative infections, to improve the long-term patient survival after SLKT.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Kidney Transplantation ; adverse effects ; methods ; mortality ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; methods ; mortality ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult