OBJECTIVETo study the clinical efficaly and safety of Tiepi Fengdou Granule (TFG) and Capsule (TFC) combined with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy in treating lung cancer patients with Qi-Yin asthenia syndrome (QYAS).

METHODSEighty patients were randomly assigned into 3 groups: the TFG group (32 cases), the TFC group (32 cases) and the Shengmai Capsule control group (16 cases). Changes of symptoms of QYAS, main symptoms of lung cancer, Karnofsky scoring as well as the blood routine test were observed.

RESULTSThe total effective rate of symptom improving in the TFG group and the TFC group was 81.2% and 93.3% respectively, showing insignificant difference between the 2 groups (P > 0.05), but both were higher than that in the Shengmai Capsule control group (50.0%, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). Additionally, as compared with those before treatment, the neutrophil count increased and the lymphocytes count obviously decreased in the TFC group after treatment (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBoth dose-forms of the remedies, TFC and TFG, have significant effects in treating lung cancer with QYAS, but with insignificant difference between them.

Adult ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Karnofsky Performance Status ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Qi ; Yin Deficiency ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo determine the physiological role of D-bifunctional protein (DBP) in bile acid biosynthesis through investigating the effect of increasing activity of DBP on bile acid biosynthesis.

METHODSTwenty male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) group (n = 10) and control group (n = 10). Serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, hepatic DBP activity, and fecal bile acids were assayed. The mRNA levels of hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha), DBP, and cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) were detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTSCompared with control group, serum triglyceride level was decreased significantly and PPARalphamRNA level was increased significantly in DEHP group (P < 0.01). Together with a sharp induction of DBP mRNA expression and DBP activity in DEHP group (P < 0.01), the levels of CYP7A1 mRNA and fecal bile acids were significantly increased by 1.9 times and 1.6 times respectively compared to control group (P < 0.01). There was a significantly positive correlation between DBP mRNA level or DBP activity and CYP7A1 mRNA level (r = 0.89, P < 0.01; r = 0.95, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe up-regulation of DBP mRNA and activity in liver can result in the increase in CYP7A1 mRNA expression and bile acid biosynthesis, suggesting that DBP may be involved in bile acid biosynthesis together with CYP7A1.

17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases ; metabolism ; Animals ; Bile Acids and Salts ; biosynthesis ; Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase ; analysis ; Enoyl-CoA Hydratase ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Multienzyme Complexes ; metabolism ; PPAR alpha ; analysis ; Peroxisomal Multifunctional Protein-2 ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Apoptosis ; physiology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; enzymology ; pathology ; Carrier Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Gene Targeting ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology ; RNA Interference ; Telomerase ; metabolism ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVEThe key feature of Treacher-Collin's syndrome is malar dysostosis. The article focused on malar reconstruction for Treacher-Collin's syndrome and compared the implant materials.

METHODSFrom 1994 to 2002, a total of 55 patients with Treacher-Collin's syndrome were treated with malar reconstruction. In the operation, the lateral orbital rim and the mala were exposed by the bicoronal incision or the subciliary incision. The mala was augmented and reconstructed with implants of different materials, including autologous bone (rib, ilia or cranium). Medpor biomaterial or bone cement.

RESULTSThe operations of the 55 patients were all successful without infection. The satisfactory rate in facial contour was 90%. Implant exclusion occurred in 2 cases using hone cement.

CONCLUSIONMalar reconstruction is the most important treatment for Treacher-Collin's syndrome. Every implant material has advantages and shortcomings. Autologous hone is the best material for malar reconstruction. Medpor is the best artificial material, with good histocompatibility, without exclusion, absorption and donor injury.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Cements ; Bone Transplantation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mandibulofacial Dysostosis ; surgery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Treatment Outcome ; Zygoma ; surgery

OBJECTIVEStroke is a complex disorder caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Epidemiological studies have provided evidence of genetic influence on the development of human stroke. However, genetic changes which contribute to the development of stroke are not well known. This study was designed to gain a deep insight into that aspect.

METHODSUsing cold-stimuli plus high-salt intake as environmental risk factors, the authors established a hypertension model in rats, which produced a complication of stroke. Then, they used the suppression subtractive hybridization(SSH) technique to identify the differential genes that specifically expressed in total cerebrum tissue of the rats in stroke group. A comparison was made between two populations, namely the control group and stroke group.

RESULTSBy the use of SSH approach, a total of 576 clones were generated in this study from two subtractive libraries, among them 456 clones were usable and were analyzed. Genes for metabolism transcripts in stroke group were shown to be up-regulated (P<0.01). Mitochondrial transcripts were observed in a high rate of 26.5%.

CONCLUSIONThe findings suggested that mitochondrial genes should induce an increased sensitivity to stroke through the changes of gene expressions. Mitochondrial genes probably play important roles in the causes and effects of stroke.

Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; pathology ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Male ; Mutation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Stroke ; etiology ; genetics ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Jinleng undershorts on the elevated scrotal temperature induced by varicocele as well as on other clinical symptoms of the disease.

METHODSFifty-one varicocele patients received the treatment of wearing Jinleng undershorts for 30 min twice a day for a course of 90 days. Comparisons were made between the scrotal temperatures and other clinical symptoms of varicocele before and after the treatment.

RESULTSAfter 90 days of treatment with Jinleng undershorts, the left scrotal temperature of the varicocele patients was significantly reduced from (32.16 +/- 0.79) degrees C to (31.53 +/- 0.77) degrees C (P < 0.01), and the right scrotal temperature decreased from (31.91 +/- 0.73) degrees C to (31.81 +/- 0.63) degrees C (P > 0.05). Compared with pretreatment, significant improvement was found in such symptoms as wetness, fever and swelling of the scrotum, backache, headache, dizziness, fatigue and anxiety (P < 0.05), as well as in testicular pain (P < 0.01) and IIEF-5 score, which was increased from 15.89 +/- 6.13 to 20.04 +/- 3.87 (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONJinleng undershorts can be used for the treatment of mild and moderate varicocele.

Body Temperature ; Clothing ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Scrotum ; Varicocele ; therapy

Objective To evaluate the occurrence and management of complications following mini- mally invasive percutaneous nephrostolithotomy (MPCNL).Methods The data of 436 cases of MPCNL from December 2001 to March 2005 were reviewed,including 249 male cases and 187 female cases.Their age ranged from 14 to 71 years with a mean of 41.6 years.Of the 436 cases,314 cases had simple nephrolith- iasis,79 had nephrolithiasis combined with upper ureterolithiasis,27 had unilateral upper ureterolithiasis,and 16 had bilateral upper ureterolithiasis.Results Among the 436 cases of MPCNL,complications occurred in 27 cases (6.2%).Of the 27 cases,5 had massive hemorrhage,which was cured by closing meatus of nephric fistula,cleaning out the blood clot within the bladder with instrument and transfusing blood;2 cases had pleural effusion,11 cases had hydroperitoneum,8 eases had renal perforating injury,and they were cured by puncture and drainage;1 case had pyocalix,which was cured by using effective antibiotics,re-punc- turing kidney and postponing pulling out the fistula catheter.Conclusions MPCNL is a minimally inva- sire operation.However,it has obvious risk if the surgeon's skill is not proficient.The improvement in the pre- vention and management of complications can promote the application of this procedure.

ObjectiveLymphatic epithelial cells (LECs) are important links involved in lymphatic metastasis in the microenvironment of cholangiocarcinoma. This study aims to detect the modulation of inflammatory factors and chemokines secreted by LECs after stimulation of cholangiocarcinoma cells, and observe the effects of highly expressed factors on lymphangiogenesis.MethodsThe culture medium of cholangiocarcinoma (RBE, HCCC9810), LECs stimulated by cholangiocarcinoma cell culture medium (CCM), and normal LECs were prepared. Inflammatory factors and chemokines in the culture medium were detected using protein chip. The experiments are divided into the following groups, including a blank control group, CCM group, CCM coupled with Anti-ENA-78 group, Anti-ENA-78 group, ENA-78 group, ENA-78 coupled with SB2252002, and SB225002 group. The relationship between the content of factor and time was investigated using ELISA, while the relation between target factors and lymphangiogenesis obtained by cell proliferation and tubule formation assay.ResultsWe found ENA-78, IP-10, GCP-2, MCP-2, MCP-3, MIP-3a, HCC-1, and Lymphotactin expression increased in LECs supernatant after CCM stimulation. However, I-TAC, MIP-1d, IL-10, MIG, PDGF-BB, and CXCL16 factors showed down-regulation. The secretion of ENA-78 in CCM was relatively low. By ELISA, we found that the ENA-78 protein in RBE-LECs and HCCC9810-LECs gradually increased over time, and reached the plateau phase at the point of 48h. The lymphatic tube forming ability of LECs cultured in CCM was significantly increased compared with that of the control group, and this ability could be partially weakened by ENA-78 neutralizing antibodies. In the exogenous ENA-78 protein group, the lymphatic tube formation ability was as well significantly increased compared with that in the control group, and this ability could be effectively blocked by the IL-8B inhibitor.ConclusionThe increased secretion ENA-78 of lymphatic epithelial cells induced by cholangiocarcinoma may play a role in promoting lymphangiogenesis through the IL-8B receptor.

Objective To study the rate of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) on HIV-1. Methods All local residents from 8 townships in a region were screened for mothers who had a history of only one blood transfusion and 63 were found HIV-1 positive. A further study on these HIV-1 positive mothers and their children was conducted with the emphasis on the date of receiving blood transfusion, date and type of nationality, history regarding breastfeeding and so on. Sera specimens from 84 children born from 63 HIV-1 positive mothers were screened, using ELISA for HIV-1 antibody, and positive specimens were confirmed by Western-blot. Results The rate of MTCT was 32.1% (27/84) for children with all risk factors related to MTCT. Another 36.8% (7/19) were related to factors on intrauterine, intrapartum and breastfeeding, 35.7% (5/14) to intrapartum and breastfeeding factors, 14.3% (2/14) to intrauterine and intrapartum factors, 37.9% (11/29) to breastfeeding factor alone. By group combination analysis, the MTCT rate was 36.9% (24/65) with breastfeeding, 11.8% (2/17) with artificial feeding, and the former was significantly higher than the latter. Conclusion HIV-1 MTCT rate among mothers caused by a single blood transfusion varied with different risk factors. Breastfeeding played an important role in MTCT, appeared in our study.

Aim To study the effect of three kinds of active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine (sinomenine, rhynchophylline and isorhynchophylline) on dre-miR-723-5p expression in morphine-induced zebrafish brain. Methods Morphine was injected intraperitoneally to zebrafish, conditional position preference (CPP) was trained and then the behavioral of animals were observed; the miRNA expression profiles of morphine-additive zebrafish were determined by small RNA sequencing; qRT-PCR was used to verify the expression of dre-miR-723-5p, three target gene databases (miRanda, miRDB, andRNAhybrid) were used to predict the target genes of dre-miR-723-5p; Kobas 3.0 was used to perform Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway analysis of these target genes. Results Morphine-induced CPP model was established successfully. Compared with control group, the resident time and movement map in drug-pair box of zebrafish in model group significantly increased. After drug administration, the resident time and movement map in drug-pair box of zebrafish decreased. The verification results of qRT-PCR were consistent with the results of small RNA sequencing. Ninety-nine putative target genes of dremiR-723-5p that were common to all three target gene databases, which were mainly enriched in biological process, cell composition and molecular function, involved in the positive regulation of MAPK signaling pathway, lysosome, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and apoptosis. Conclusion Morphine can increase the expression of dre-miR-723-5p in the zebrafish brain, which can be reversed by sinomenine, isorhynchophylline, and rhynchophylline treatment, and dre-miR-723-5p may participate in the mechanism underlying morphine-induced damage of brain.