0.05).Conclusions The expression of myostatin gene mRNA is increased in myotonic dystrophy.Up-regulated expression of myostatin in skeletal muscle might be associated with the mechanism of myotonic dystrophy.

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effect of combination of acupressure and magnetic sticker on the quality of life (QOL) including appetite, defecation, and sleep in patients with advanced gastroenteric tumor.

METHODSTotally 147 patients with advanced gastroenteric tumor were assigned to 4 groups according to different treatment methods, i.e., the supportive treatment group (A, 20 cases), the acupressure treatment group (B, 41 cases), the magnetic sticker treatment group (C, 40 cases), and a combination of acupressure and magnetic sticker treatment group (D, 46 cases). They were respectively treated with different methods, supportive treatment for group A, acupressure for group B, magnetic sticker for group C, and a combination of acupressure and magnetic sticker for group D. The scores of food intake, defecation frequency, sleep time, Karnofsky, and QOL were compared before treatment and at day 14 after treatment.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the scores of food intake, defecation frequency, and sleep time were obviously improved in B, C and D groups (P < 0.01). There was statistical difference between group D and group A (P < 0.01). In addition, in comparison with A group, both Karnofsky score and QOL score increased in B, C and D groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe assisted therapy of the combination of acupressure and magnetic sticker could ameliorate QOL such as the digestive functions and sleep in patients with advanced gastroenteric tumor.

Acupressure ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; therapy ; Humans ; Magnetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome

Notch signaling pathway is involved in oogenesis and the secretion of ovarian hormones .It controls prolifera-tion and differentiation of ovarian stem cells .In addition, the Notch pathway is also involved in ovarian carcinogenesis .

A novel white-rot fungus AH28-2,which was isolated from 224 fungi samples,ability to produce effectively laccase by induction.Several factors influencing laccase production were investigated.The optimum conditions were as follows:the 300mL Erlenmeyer flask containing 150mL of liquid medium was inoculated with 7.5mL of mycelial fragments and the medium was supplied with lignin at a concentration of 0.1%(initial pH8.5).The cultures was incubated at 28℃ on rotary shaker(150r/min) for 4～5 days.The maximum enzyme activity was 20184IU/L.

Objective:To investigate the analgesic time-effect characteristics and changes in concentrations of rabbit's hypothalamic 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and noradrenaline (NE) caused by buccal acupuncture in the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) rabbits,and to reveal the analgesic central mechanism of buccal acupuncture,thereby providing a theoretical basis for the treatment of pain by buccal acupuncture.Methods:Forty rabbits were randomly divided into a normal group,a model group,a body acupuncture group,and a buccal acupuncture group,with 10 rabbits in each group.No model was established in the normal group,while equal dose of normal saline was injected at the matched site and time point;rabbits in other groups were subjected to the establishment of RA models using egg protein.From the 27th day of the experiment,rabbits in each group received the designated intervention.Rabbits in the normal group and the model group were fixed for 30 min every day using the same method as those in the other groups.In the acupuncture group,Dubi (ST 35) and Zusanli (ST 36) on bilateral hind limbs were selected.Perpendicular needling (using the needles with 0.25 mm in diameter and 25 mm in length) was performed with twirling manipulation for 15 s at intervals of 5 min.The needles were retained for 30 min and acupuncture was performed once a day.In the buccal acupuncture group,the knee point in the buccal acupuncture and needles with a diameter of 0.25 mm and a length of 15 mm were selected.Oblique needling was performed with twirling manipulation for 15 s at intervals of 5 min.The needles were retained for 30 min and acupuncture was performed once a day.The thermal pain thresholds at the 0,5,15,30,60,120 and 240 min after the 1st and 10th acupuncture therapy were measured with a PL-200 thermal-inducing pain meter.After the 10th acupuncture therapy,rabbit's hypothalamus was removed,and the 5-HT and NE concentrations in the hypothalamus at the peak point of the acupuncture pain threshold curve were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).Results:The analgesic effect was obvious at 5 min after buccal acupuncture started,peaked at 30 min,and decreased to the lowest value at 240 min.Rabbits in the body acupuncture group began to show significant analgesic effect at 15 min,which was peaked at 30 min,and began to decline at 60 min.The pain threshold at 240 min was still higher than that at 0 min.Compared with the model group,the concentrations of hypothalamic 5-HT in the buccal acupuncture group and the body acupuncture group was significantly increased,and the between-group differences were statistically significant (both P＜0.05).The NE/5-HT ratios in hypothalamus in the buccal acupuncture group and the body acupuncture group were significantly lower than the ratio in the model group,and the differences were statistically significant (both P＜0.05);difference in the decrease was statistically significant between the buccal acupuncture group and the body acupuncture group (P＜0.05).Conclusion:The analgesic effect of buccal acupuncture shows an obvious time-dependent curve.It is characterized by rapid onset of pain relief,rapid increase and decline in pain threshold.5-HT and NE levels in rabbit's hypothalamus can be affected by buccal acupuncture,with increased 5-HT concentration and reduced NE/5-HT ratio.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of Danshen injectable powder on myocardial remodeling in pressure overload rats and isoproterenol(ISO)injection mice.METHODS SD Rats were subject to abdominal aortic constriction(AAC)surgery to develop pressure overload.Therapeutic effect of Danshen injectable powder was assessed six weeks after AAC surgery. The lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) levels in serum, biometric, echocardiographic parameters, interstitial fibrosis, the expression of DJ-1 and SOD2 were then measured. The myocardial impairment in mice was induced by ISO injection. LDH and CK in serum, biometric, interstitial fibrosis were measured to investigate the cardioprotective effect of Danshen injectable powder. Matrix-assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry imaging(MALDI-MSI)was used to detect the changes of 60-1000 Da molecules in mice heart tissue. RESULTS In AAC rats, we observed compensatory hypertrophy and perivascular fibrosis,however cardiac function had not progressed to deterioration.The levels of LDH and CK were decreased significantly in the Danshen injectable powder groups(P<0.05,P<0.05).Danshen injectable powder could alleviate the perivascular collagen deposits but not cardiac hypertrophy in AAC rats. Furthermore,Danshen injectable powder enhanced the expression levels of SOD2 and DJ-1 in cardio-myocytes (P<0.05, P<0.01). In ISO injection mice, the levels of HWI and LDH were decreased signifi-cantly in drug treatment group compared with model group (P<0.01, P<0.01). In the MALDI-MSI of mice heart section,Danshen injectable powder can improve the reduction of energy metabolism-related substances including adenosine, creatine and ADP induced by ISO impairment. CONCLUSION Danshen injectable powder can attenuate perivascular fibrosis and improve the expression of anti-oxidative stress-related proteins SOD2,DJ-1 in the rats with pressure overload-induced left ventricular remodeling.Danshen injectable powder has cardioprotective effect on ISO impairment in mice which is probably related to improvement of energy metabolism.

Objective To investigate the frequency of CD4~+CD25~+FOXP3~+Treg cells in the peripheral blood of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)patients and its association with disease activity.Methods Pe- ripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC)from 28 patients(including 18 active SLE)and 22 healthy controls were counted and stained for CD4,CD25 and intracellular FOXP3.Cells were examined by 3-color staining on the Epics XL-MC and data were analyzed using EXPO32 software.Disease activity was assessed by systemic lupus erythematousus activity index(SLEDAI).Results The frequency of CD4~+CD25~+FOXP3~+Treg cells was significantly decreased in patients with active SLE compared with patients with inactive SEE and controls [(1.08?0.43)%,(1.58?0.45)% and(1.66?0.34)%,P

OBJECTIVETo make investigations on the polymorphism of interleukin-1 (IL-1)gene in Chinese Han population, on its association with essential hypertension, and on the relationship between the genotype of IL-1 and susceptibility to essential hypertension.

METHODSThe polymorphisms of IL-1 gene in Han population of Hubei province, including polymorphisms of IL-1alpha (-889C/T), IL-1beta (-511C/T),IL-1beta (+3953C/T), IL-1Ra(+8006T/C) and IL-1Ra (variable number of tandem repeat, VNTR), were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and a combination of PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism methods in 152 patients with essential hypertension and 168 healthy controls.

RESULTSThe polymorphism distributions of IL-1alpha (-889C/T), IL-1beta (+3953C/T), IL-1Ra (+8006T/C) and IL-1Ra (VNTR) showed no differences between the essential hypertension group and control group, but the IL-1beta (-511C/T) exhibited a significant difference between the two groups. CT genotype carriers were at increased risk for essential hypertension (OR=2.54, 95%CI: 1.41-4.58), compared with healthy controls.

CONCLUSIONThe polymorphism of promotor region -511C/T in IL-1beta gene is probably associated with the susceptibility to essential hypertension.

Aged ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hypertension ; genetics ; Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein ; genetics ; Interleukin-1alpha ; genetics ; Interleukin-1beta ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minisatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

OBJECTIVETo study the distribution of variable numbers of tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism in the intron 2 and the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at position +8006 in the exon 2 of IL-1RN in healthy Chinese Han Population of Wuhan province and to analyze their correlation with the serum lipoprotein level.

METHODSIL-1RN (VNTR) and IL-1RN (+8006) polymorphisms were detected by PCR and PCR-RFLP methods in 251 healthy Chinese Han Population of Wuhan, and the levels of serum lipoprotein, IL-1 and IL-1Ra were inspected simultaneously.

RESULTSIn IL-1RN (VNTR), allele I appeared most common, then allele II, and allele IV was rare. At the position of IL-1RN (+8006), allele T was most commonly seen followed by allele C. Allele II of IL-1RN (VNTR) always existed with allele C of IL-1RN (+8006). The levels of serum lipoprotein, IL-1 and IL-1Ra were not different among the different genotypes of the two polymorphisms.

CONCLUSIONThere were two gene polymorphisms in the intron 2 and exon 2 of IL-1RN, which were not correlated with the levels of serum lipoprotein, IL-1 and IL-1Ra. However, there seemed to be a linkage disequilibrium between IL-1RN (VNTR) and IL-1RN (+8006).

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; genetics ; Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein ; Introns ; genetics ; Lipoproteins ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minisatellite Repeats ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Sialoglycoproteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in circulating bone marrow stem cells in pregnant rabbits after AMI (AMI) and their relationship with estradiol.

METHODSThree groups of rabbits were used, namely pregnancy and AMI group, AMI group without pregnancy, and sham operation group with pregnancy. The ratio of CD90(+) cells in the peripheral blood was determined with flow cytometry in all the rabbits, and serum estradiol level measured. Four weeks after AMI, hemodynamic measurements were carried out. The morphological changes of the myocardial tissues were examined with ImageJ 1.31.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONFour weeks after AMI, the two pregnancy groups showed a higher Left ventricular end systolic pressure(LVESP) and+dp/dtmax, lower left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and -dp/dtmax and high levels of CD90(+) cells in peripheral blood than AMI group without pregnancy (P<0.01). The ratio of circulating CD90(+) cells increased gradually with gestational age and peaked at the end stage of pregnancy. After delivery the circulating CD90+ cell ratio decreased sharply, showing a significant correlation with serum estradiol level (r=0.725, P<0.01). Four weeks after AMI, the pregnancy group had smaller myocardial infarction (MI) volume than the non-pregnant group (22.17+/-6.34% vs 38.86+/-5.97%, P<0.05). Circulating bone marrow stem cells increased during pregnancy with gestational age and peaked at the end stage of pregnancy. Ten days after delivery, the stem cells resumed basically the normal level. The proportion of circulating bone marrow stem cells was significantly correlated with the level of serum estradiol during pregnancy, and mobilization of the bone marrow stem cells induced by acute ischemic event in pregnant rabbits was advanced. 4 weeks after AMI, the pregnant rabbits showed better heart contraction and diastolic function than the non-pregnant ones.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Myocardial Contraction ; Myocardial Infarction ; blood ; physiopathology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular ; blood ; Rabbits ; Thy-1 Antigens ; blood ; Time Factors