Objectives To isolate the cardiogenic fraction, which can enhance cardiogenic differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells(MSC)from Geum iaponicum.The therapeutic effeet of the isolated cardiogenic fraction was further tested in a rat myocardial infaretion (MI)model.Method Bioassay guided fractionation method was used for the isolation of the cardiogenic fraction,named as heart repair fraction(HRF).MI was induced by a permanent ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery.The rats exhibiting similarly decreased values of left ventricle ejection fraction(LVEF) and fraction shortening(LVFS)were used.The rats in test group(n=10)were subject to HRF treatment(20 mg·kg-1·d-1)through gastric gavage daily for 4 weeks.Water alone(2 ml/d) was given through gastric gavage to rats in the control group(n=10).The cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography at different time points.Masson trichrome staining was used for evaluation of the infarct size.Morphological and immunohistochemical studies were performed to investigate the HRF mediated myocardial regeneration.Results LVEF(66.2%±6.9%)and LVFS(46.8%±5.8%)were significantly increased two weeks post HRF treatment compared with the values(LVEF:55.7%±6.0%and LVES:36.4%±5.2%)in control rats(a11 P<0.01).The improved heart function was further restored 4 weeks post HRF treatment(P<0.01).Furthermore,the treatment of acute MI with this HRF significantly reduced the infarct size(19.0%±6.1%)compared with that(31.1%±8.6%)in control rats(P<0.01).Substantial regeneration of cardiomyoeytes in infarcted region of the HRF treated heart was also observed that replaced a considerable part of the infarcted heart tissues resulting in remarkable reduction of the infarct size.Conclusion The properties of this HRF isolated from Geum japonicum in stimulating substantial regeneration of myocardium in infarct region with consequently improved cardiac function appear to be new and represent a new approach for the treatment of MI.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of abdominal acupuncture for adhesion-stage shoulder periarthritis.

METHODSOne hundred and fifty-seven cases of shoulder periarthritis were randomly divided into an abdominal acupuncture group (79 cases) and a body acupuncture group (78 cases). The abdominal acupuncture was applied at Zhongwan (CV 12), Shangqu (KI 17) and Huaroumen (ST 24) in the abdominal acupuncture group while conventional acupuncture was applied at Jianyu (LI 15), Jianliao (TE 14) and Jianzhen (SI 9) in the body acupuncture group. The treatment was given three times a week for both groups and ten times made an observation course. Before and after treatment, visual analogue scale (VAS) was adopted for pain assessment and functional activity score (Mallet score) was used for shoulder joint function assessment for all the patients. Also the efficacy of both groups was compared.

RESULTSThe total effective rate in the abdominal acupuncture group was 92.4% (73/79), which was superior to 71.8% (56/78) in the body acupuncture group. The score of VAS after the treatment was 2.58 +/- 1.64 in the abdominal acupuncture group while 3.12 +/- 1.93 in the body acupuncture group, which had no statistical significance between each other (P > 0.05). The functional activity score after the treatment was 8.34 +/- 3.02 in the abdominal acupuncture group while 7.49 +/- 3.36 in the body acupuncture group, which had no statistical significance between each other (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe abdominal acupuncture is an ideal treatment for adhesion-stage shoulder periarthritis, which has better total efficacy than conventional acupuncture. It achieves the same effect in relieving pain and improving functional activity as conventional acupuncture, but also has an advantage at fast selection of acupoint and less discomfort of needling sensation.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Periarthritis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Shoulder ; physiopathology

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of akatinol memantine in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD).Methods Two hundred and forty-one patients with AD were randomly assigned to receive 10 mg of donepezil daily or 20 mg of memantine daily for 24 weeks.The primary efficacy variables were the Clinician' s Interview-Based Impression of Change Plus (CIBIC-Plus),the Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-cognition (ADAS-cog) and the Activities of Daily Living (ADL).The secondary efficacy variables were the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE).Results Two hundred and seven patients completed the study and were evaluated at week 24.Both memantine and donepezil had significant efficacies at the end point, according to the ADAS-cog, the ADL, the NPI and the MMSE.Patients receiving memantine had a similar outcome as those receiving donepezil, according to the results of all the variables changes (CIBIC-Plus: memantine 3.4±0.8vs donepezil 3.5±0.8; ADAS-cog: memantine-4.7±5.8 vs donepezil-4.6±6.5; ADL: memantine -2.4±6.7 vs donepezil-2.2±5.3 ; NP1: memantine-5.8±9.0 vs donepezil-3.1±8.5 ; MMSE:memantine 1.7±3.1 vs donepezil 1.8±2.8, all P >0.05).The adverse events were as following: donepezil group 41.88% and memanintine group 30.58%.Conclusion The memantine as a new drug for AD, has the similar efficacy as donepezil, and it is safe.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) combined with stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) and the radiation-induced complications in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSSixty-eight patients with locally advanced NSCLC were randomly divided into two groups. The 33 patients in groups A received 3DCRT at the total dose of 66 to 70 Gy in 33 to 35 fractions, and the 35 patents in group B received stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) at the dose of 20 Gy in 4 fractions (500 cGy per fraction every other day) after 60 Gy 3DCRT.

RESULTSThe total response rates in groups A and B were 56.3% and 80.0%, with the complete remission rates of 9.4% and 28.6%, respectively, both showing significant differences between the two groups (P<0.05). The 1- and 2-year survival rates of the patients in group A were 65.6% and 46.8%, respectively, which were comparable to those in group B (74.3% and 51.4%, respectively, P>0.05). The median survival time in groups A and B were 12.6 and 18.3 months, respectively. The major radiation-induced complications in the two groups included grade I to II acute radiation esophagitis and hematopoietic toxicity. The complications in later stages following the radiation were grade I to II radiation lung fibrosis, occurring at a similar incidence between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONThe combination of 3DCRT and SRT produces better therapeutic effects than 3DCRT alone in patients with locally advanced NSCLC.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; radiotherapy ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; methods ; Stereotaxic Techniques ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) function of the condylar hyperplasia patients after condylectomy.

METHODSTwelve patients with condylar hyperplasia were included in this study. Before and after condylectomy, they were examined and the Fricton' s Craniomandibular Index (CMI) was calculated to assess the functional disorder of TMJ.

RESULTS(1) The facial asymmetry was improved after condylectomy. The morphological symmetry of the bilateral condyle and ramus was displayed by X-ray examinations. There was new cortex formed on the surface of the operated condyle. (2) The TMJ function was improved in terms of Fricton's DI and CMI, which decreased from 0.131 and 0.066 to 0.042 and 0.021 respectively (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCondylectomy is an effective method to remedy facial asymmetry and, at the same time, improve the TMJ function of the condylar hyperplasia patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperostosis ; surgery ; Male ; Mandibular Condyle ; pathology ; surgery ; Orthopedic Procedures ; Temporomandibular Joint ; pathology ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders ; etiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the electrosonography character of sounds emanating from anterior disc displacement with reduction of TMJ and the value of it in clinical diagnosis.

METHODSThe sounds from healthy TMJ, anterior disc displacement with or without reduction of TMJ, and osteoarthritis of TMJ were recorded and analyzed by K6-I system, then the data was used for diagnosis of anterior disc displacement with reduction in clinic.

RESULTSA special kind of waveform was found in the electrosonography of sounds from anterior disc displacement with reduction repeatedly, and seldom or not in sounds from healthy joints, anterior disc displacement without reduction or osteoarthritis of TMJ. The diagnostic sensitivity of anterior disc displacement with reduction by using electrosonography analysis was 77.2% and specificity was 93.3% when compared with the clinical diagnosis based on clinical appearance and radiography evidence.

CONCLUSIONSThe special kind of waveform may be characteristic wave of sounds from anterior disc displacement with reduction of TMJ, which is useful for assistant diagnosis of anterior disc displacement with reduction in clinic.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Electrodiagnosis ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Sound Spectrography ; Temporomandibular Joint Disc ; pathology ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders ; diagnosis ; Young Adult

Aim To investigate the alteration of volt-age-depending potassium channel(KV) current in pul-monary arterial smooth muscle cells(PASMCs) of pul-monary hypertension (PH) rats, and the effect of tet-raethylammonium (TEA,a blocker of KV) on potassi-um channel current in different PH models. Methods The whole-cell patch clamp techniques were applied to record the KVcurrents from PASMCs cultured with Ham's F-12 (1% FBS). Furthermore, the effects of TEA on the KVcurrents were examined in different PH models. Results The whole-cell KVcurrents were ob-viously inhibited in PASMCs of chronic hypoxia (CH)and monocrotaline (MCT)-treated rats. TEA signifi-cantly decreased the whole-cell KVcurrents in PASMCs of control and PH rats,and the inhibitory effect of TEA was dramatically reduced in PH group. Conclusions The degree of the voltage-dependent potassium chan-nels opening is significantly inhibited in PASMCs of CH and MCT-treated rats,accordingly,the TEA-sen-sitive KVcurrents obviously decrease.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical and genetic characteristics of three children with ornithine carbamoyltransferase deficiency(OTCD), and to provide a practical method for gene diagnosis and genetic counseling of the disease.

METHODSAll exons of the ornithine carbamoyltransferase (OTC) gene were screened by polymerase chain reaction-DNA direct sequencing in the three OTCD patients.

RESULTSOne patient firstly presented as vomiting at 6 month of age. A missense mutation of T262I was detected. His mother had the same mutation without any clinical symptoms. The second patient presented as restlessness, and had a missense mutation of R277W. Gene analysis of his parents was not available. The third patient presented as neonatal lethargy, harbored a missense mutation of I172M. His mother had the same mutation without any clinical symptoms.

CONCLUSIONGene mutation analysis is a feasible way for diagnosing OTCD. Patients with I172M mutation present symptom early, while those with T262I and R277W mutations manifest symptoms later. Gene mutation analysis will be important for asymptomatic and prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling.

Base Sequence ; Child ; Exons ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Mutation ; genetics ; Ornithine Carbamoyltransferase ; genetics ; Ornithine Carbamoyltransferase Deficiency Disease ; genetics ; pathology

To investigate the mechanisms of a compound (FF16), compatibility of Rhodiola crenulata, Cordyceps militaris, and Rheum palmatum, on glucose metabolic disorders, the IRF mice charactered with insulin resistance and glucose metabolic disorders induced by high-fat diet in C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 3 groups; IRF, rosiglitazone (Rosi) and FF16. The glucose metabolism was evaluated by fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels and intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT). The insulin sensitivity was estimated by insulin tolerance test (ITT), fasting serum insulin levels and the index of HOMA-IR. The expressions of Akt and its phosphorylation levels, GSK3beta and its phosphorylation levels in liver were detected by Western Blot. The results showed that FF16 significantly improved the glucose metabolic disorders through reducing FBG by 15.1%, decreasing AUC values in glucose tolerance tests by 22.3%. FF16 significantly improved the insulin sensitivity through decreasing AUC values in insulin tolerance tests by 22.1%, reducing the levels of serum insulin by 42.9% and of HOMA-IR by 49.5%, comparing with model control, respectively. After the treatment with FF16, the levels of p-Akt and p-GSK3beta were increased by 116.4% and 24.9%, respectively, in the liver of IRF mice. In conclusion, compound FF16 could improve glucose metabolic disorders in IRF mice through enhancing the glyconeogenesis.
Animals ; Cordyceps ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; drug therapy ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Phosphorylation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Rheum ; Rhodiola

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of the combined method of abdominal axial flap transposition and penile elongation for the treatment of the remnant penis.

METHODSFifty-two cases of the remnant penis treated with the combined method from 1984 April to February 2004 were analyzed retrospectively. Follow-up ranged from 0.5 to 20 years postoperatively.

RESULTSThe lengths (both in normal and erectile conditions) and the circumferences of the penis gained after operation were (5.6 +/- 1.4) cm, (6.8 +/- 2.5 cm and (6.9 +/- 2.3) cm respectively. The recovery rates of the sensory function were 94.2% and 100% in the glans (immediately and 3 months after operation) and 32.7%, 51.9% and 75% in the flap area (3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively). The two-point distinguishing sense in the glans and the flap area was (5.1 +/- 0.9) mm and(7.9 +/- 1.3) mm 5 years after operation. Early complications included distant flap necrosis (3 cases), disruption of the wound (2 cases), part necrosis of the skin graft in the abdominal wall (2 cases) and poor contours occurred in 4 cases in the later period because of the thickness of the flaps. All of them were corrected with satisfactory results.

CONCLUSIONThe combined method of abdominal axial flap transposition and penile elongation was recommendable for the treatment of the remnant penis because of its positive effects and less complications.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penis ; injuries ; surgery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgical Flaps