Xiangxi (the western part of Hunan province) Liu's infantile tuina,as one main school of current infantile tuina in China,highlights the compatibility of the specific points of Wujing in children,the idea of treatment by syndrome differentiation,and produces unique efficacy in the treatment of common diseases in children.Exogenous fever in children can be treated with this method with excellent efficacy.Based on the clinical experience and effective cases treated by this tuina school,the authors elaborated the clinical thought and experience from the perspective view of tuina,for the promotion of Xiangxi Liu's infantile tuina in clinic.

Objective: To determine the optimal manipulation parameters in Liu's back tuina therapy for remission-stage cough variant asthma (CVA) in kids. Methods: A 5-factor 3-level L18(37) orthogonal design was adopted. The experimental factors and levels were selected: A, the number of times of Rou-kneading Feishu (BL 13); B, the frequency of Rou-kneading Feishu (BL 13); C, the number of times of Tui-pushing in a '介'-like pattern; D, the frequency of Tui-pushing in a '介'-like pattern; E, the intensity of red color after Ca-scrubbing Feishu (BL 13) with salt. A1, A2 and A3 stood for 10 times, 20 times and 30 times, respectively; B1, B2 and B3 stood for 200 times/min, 240 times/min and 280 times/min, respectively; C1, C2 and C3 stood for 50 times, 75 times and 100 times, respectively; D1, D2 and D3 stood for 150 times/min, 175 times/min and 200 times/min, respectively; E1, E2 and E3 stood for pinkish, bright red and dark red, respectively. A total of 108 kids with CVA in remission stage were divided into 18 groups using the random number table method, with 6 cases in each group. Changes in the cough score and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) level were observed after 15-day treatment. Results: The cough score and FENO level changed significantly in every group after treatment (all P<0.01). By the effect in improving cough score, the factors were listed as D, B, A, C and E in descending order; the most optimal manipulation parameter combination was group 17 (A3B2C1D3E1); the second optimal parameter combinations were group 7 (A3B1C2D1E3), group 13 (A2B1C2D3E1) and group 14 (A2B2C3D1E2). Regarding the effect in down-regulating the level of FENO, the factors were listed as C, A, E, B and D in descending order; the most optimal manipulation parameter combination was group 13 (A2B1C2D3E1); the second optimal parameter combinations were group 18 (A3B3C2D1E2), group 16 (A3B1C3D2E3) and group 14 (A2B2C3D1E2).Conclusion: Two most effective manipulation parameter combinations were selected out of 18 different parameter combinations in Liu's back tuina therapy for remission-stage CVA in kids. Doctors can choose an appropriate manipulation based on the symptom features of the disease.

By non-steady method,the effective diffusivity of ferrous sulphate within alginate calcium gel entrapped without bacteria was measured.Meanwhile the oxidation ability of entrapped bacteria was analyzed.Experimental results showed that the effective diffusion coefficient of ferrous sulphate decreased with the increase of alginate concentration,the optimum alginate concentration is 2%(W/V).The effect of calcium chloride on the effective diffusivity was neglectable.The incubation of ferrooxidans would pass through 10 hours,and the diffusion coefficient within gel entrapped Thiobacillus ferrooxidans cells was less remarkably than that of ferrous sulphate without entrapped cells.For the entrapped cells,the absolute oxidation time was shortest and the rate change was fastest with the initial Fe concentration 5g/L.The absolute oxidation time was same when the initial Fe concentration was 8g/L and 10g/L.

OBJECTIVETo explore the biological effects of tetracycline on cultured human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPDLFs).

METHODSIncreasing concentrations of tetracycline (1, 5, 20, 100, 500, 2500 microg/ml) were added to the medium of cultured HPDLFs, respectively. After co-incubated for 2 days, cell morphology was observed under reverse microscope, meanwhile, cell proliferation activity was assayed using MTT, the total amount of protein was detected with Coumassie Bright Blue method and DNA synthesis was measured by 3H-TdR.

RESULTSOver a concentration range of 1 to 100 microg/ml, cells demonstrated a normal appearance, spindle or fusiform shaped. Moreover, at a concentration range of 20 to 100 microg/ml, tetracycline significantly enhanced the proliferating activity and biosynthesis of HPDLFs (P < 0.01). However, higher concentration (2500 microg/ml) not only changed cell morphology, but also significantly inhibited cellular activity.

CONCLUSIONThe results suggested that proper doses of tetracycline could promote proliferation and biosynthesis of HPDLFs while higher concentrations of tetracycline had cytotoxic effect.

Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; Humans ; Periodontal Ligament ; cytology ; drug effects ; Tetracycline ; pharmacology

Objective To evaluate the development of the sphincter muscle complex(SMC)and defecation function in pediatric patients with congenital anorectal malformations(ARM).Methods A total of 64 children underwent MRI,among whom 39 were patients with ARM,and the others were patients without ARM undergoing MRI because of other dieases.The dimensions of the SMC in different planes were evaluated with different sequences and coils.The relationship between the SMC development and the defecation function was investigated.Results In control group,the absolute value of SMC width was (3.63?0.22)mm,which had a high correlation with age(r=0.998,P0.05).The SMCs in intermediate ARM patients[muscle index(MI)=0.47?0.05]and low ARM patients(MI=0.49? 0.05)were well developed.The SMCs in a portion of patients with high ARM(MI=0.28?0.06)were poorly developed,when MI≤0.18,anorectal contraction pressurewas significantly lower(t=3.55, P0.18[(0.85?0.20)vs(2.24?1.02)kPa].The length of anal canal with high-pressure[(10.88?3.64)vs(20.26?4.34)mm]was shorter(t=5.18,P0.18,the anorectal angle was less than 90 degrees,and normal continent function was found in 21 of 23 cases(91%).Conclusion MRI can be employed to evaluate the development of SMC in patients with ARM,MI was an objective criteria to evaluate the development of SMC.When MI≤0.18, maldevelopment of SMC will be highly suspected.

BACKGROUNDTransforming growth factor (TGF) beta(1)-Smads signal plays an important role in cardiac remodeling following myocardial infarction (MI). In addition, both angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) and angiotensin II type I receptor blocker (ARB) can effectively prevent left ventricular remodeling. The current study focused on whether the combination of ACEI and ARB is more beneficial for preventing ventricular remodeling and whether Smad proteins mediate this beneficial effect.

METHODSMI was induced by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery in rats. Twenty-four hours after ligation, the survived rats were randomly divided into five groups and treated for 8 weeks: placebo group, ACEI group (benazepril 10 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)), ARB group (irbesartan 50 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)), ACEI + ARB group (benazepril 10 mg.kg(-1).d(-1) + irbesartan 50 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)) and control group (sham-operated rats). After 8 weeks, we examined the following indexes: the ratio of ventricular weight to body weight (VW/BW), left ventricular end diastolic dimension (LVDd), ejection fraction (EF), fractional shortening (FS), ratio of E-wave to A-wave velocity, collagen of noninfarcted zone, the mRNA expression of TGFbeta(1), Smad 2, and Smad 3 by RT-PCR in noninfarcted zone, the protein expression of Smad 2 and Smad 3 in noninfarcted zone by Western blot.

RESULTSVW/BW significantly increased in the placebo groups compared with that in the control group (P < 0.01). This increase was limited in ACEI, ARB, and combined groups (P < 0.01 compared with placebo group). There was no significant difference among the three actively treated groups. Collagen was increased in placebo group (5.68 +/- 0.5)% compared with that in control group (P < 0.01). ACEI, ARB and combined treatment attenuated this increase of collagen [(4.3 +/- 0.5)%, (3.5 +/- 0.5)%, (3.2 +/- 0.4)%] in comparison with that in placebo group (P < 0.01 respectively). Combined treatment showed more significant effect on collagen deposition. EF and FS significantly decreased, LVDd and E/A significantly increased in placebo group compared with that in control group (P < 0.01 respectively). ACEI, ARB and combined treatment ameliorated these indexes (P < 0.01 compared with placebo group). The mRNA expression of TGFbeta(1), Smad 2, and Smad 3 (0.700 +/- 0.045, 0.959 +/- 0.037 and 0.850 +/- 0.051) increased in placebo group compared with that in control group (P < 0.01). ACEI, ARB and combined treatment normalized the increase (P < 0.01). Furthermore, ARB and combined treatment proved to be more effective in decreasing TGF beta(1) and Smad mRNA expression than ACEI treatment (P < 0.01). The expression of Smad 2 and Smad 3 protein increased in placebo group compared with that in control group (P < 0.01). ACEI, ARB and combined treatment normalized the increase (P < 0.01). Furthermore, ARB and combined treatment proved to be more effective than ACEI alone (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSTGFbeta(1)-Smads signal activation is correlated with ventricular remodeling following MI. ACEI and ARB treatment prevents ventricular remodeling by inhibiting expression of Smad 2 and Smad 3. ARB and combined treatment are more effective than ACEI alone.

Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Echocardiography ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; drug therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Smad2 Protein ; analysis ; genetics ; Smad3 Protein ; analysis ; genetics ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; genetics ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Ventricular Remodeling ; drug effects

A new Schiff base fluorescence probe (E)-3-(4-(E)-((4-hydroxyphenyl) imino) methyl) phenyl)-1-(6-methoxynaphthal-2-yl) isopropyl-2-en-1-one (DFFH) was synthesized by using 6-methoxy-2-acetylnaphthalene as raw material. The probe was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR,13C NMR) and high-resolution mass spectroscopy (HRMS),etc. In the EtOH-H2O (1:4,V/V) system,the 4-hydroxyaniline portion of probe DFFH complexed with Fe3+to form a 1:1 metal complex,resulting in a significant decrease in fluorescence at 386 nm. In the DMSO-H2O (9:1,V/V,pH=5) system,N2H4 reacted with α,β-unsaturated carbonyl group and underwent cyclization addition reaction,and at the same time,the cleavage of the imine bond released aldehyde group from the probe,showing a ratio type fluorescence recognition characteristices. The luminescence intensity of the probe solution decreased slightly upon the additon of Fe3+,and the probe solution changed from colourless to yellowish-brown with the addition of different concentrations of N2H4. Whereas the detection of Fe3+and N2H4 did not interfere with each other. The experimental results showed that probe DFFH had high sensitivity and selectivity toward Fe3+and N2H4,with detection limit of 34.0 nmol/L for Fe3+and 30.0 nmol/L for N2H4,respectively. Moreover,probe DFFH was applied to detection of the contents of Fe3+and N2H4 in actual water samples with satisfactory results,and the spiking recoveries were 96.5％～102.3％and 98.1％～103.0％,respectively.

A fragment of hepatitis E virus open reading frame-2(ORF2), located from amino acid residues 394 to 604, was expressed in E. coli. The recombinant protein NE2 was found to form homodimer mostly in SDS-PAGE, which can be dissociated to monomers when treated with urea, and it was recognized more strongly in its dimeric form than the monomer by HEV reactive human serum in Western blotting. Besides, many aggregated form of NE2 from dimer to at least hexamer can be seen in MALDI-TOF-MS. And when the hydrated dynamic semidiameter of NE2 moleculars in PBS was measured as about 4 nm by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), being equal to tetramer, but with high polydispersity, which suggested that the NE2 moleculars were existed in PBS in many different sizes. These results suggested that the recombinant NE2 can aggregate into several oligomer forms, the association in the dimer is most strong, and dimers can assemble further to form some super-structure.
Dimerization ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Protein Conformation ; Recombinant Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Viral Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism

HEV is classified into H (human) group and Z (zoonosis) group according to its compatible host. H group contains genotype 1 and genotype 2 HEV isolates which infect human only; Z group contains genotype 3 and genotype 4 HEV isolates which infect both human and animals. After analysis of amino acid sequences between ORF2 aa368 and aa606, four group-conserved sites that were all located in the neutralization region of ORF2 were identified. They are aa483, aa492, aa497 and aa599. Mutation analysis and capture PCR were then performed on these sites with a group of monoclonal antibodies. Results showed that the difference of the aa497 between H and Z groups was responsible for the maintenance of their group-specific immunodominant epitopes, probably through confirmation-dependent epitope changes. Thus, aa497 and its related change on the surface structure of HEV may play important roles in host selection by H and Z groups of HEV.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; Base Sequence ; Genotype ; Hepatitis E virus ; classification ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunodominant Epitopes ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Neutralization Tests ; Open Reading Frames

OBJECTIVETo understand the infectivity and pathogenicity of the plasma of hepatitis E virus (HEV) viremia to primate animals.

METHODSRNA fragment of HEV genotype IV was detected on one healthy donor who was positive for anti-HEV IgM and negative for anti-HEV IgG. Then 10 ml plasma from above donor was transfused to rhesus monkey to observe its infectivity and pathogenicity.

RESULTSAcute hepatitis E was developed in rhesus monkey who accept HEV RNA positive plasma. It was confirmed by virological, immunological, biochemical and histopathological data.

CONCLUSIONAcute hepatitis E can be induced by plasma transfusion of HEV viremia, which indicate the possibility of transfusion transmitted hepatitis E

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Blood Donors ; Hepatitis E ; transmission ; Hepatitis E virus ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Macaca mulatta ; RNA, Viral ; blood ; Transfusion Reaction