Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of thunder-fire moxibustion for hypomenorrhea after induced abortion. Methods: A total of 74 patients with hypomenorrhea after induced abortion were randomized into two groups, with 37 cases in each group. The control group was treated with conventional hormone sequential therapy, and the observation group was treated with thunder-fire moxibustion. The course of treatment was 3 menstrual cycles. The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom scores, menstrual volume, endometrial thickness and the sex hormone levels were observed before and after treatment. The clinical efficacy was compared after treatment. Results: The total effective rate in the observation group and the control group was 91.4％ and 73.5％, respectively, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). After treatment, the TCM symptom scores in both groups decreased significantly (all P<0.05), and the scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The menstrual volume, endometrial thickness and each sex hormone level of the patients in both groups were significantly improved after treatment (all P<0.05), and the improvements in the observation group were more significant than those in the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Thunder-fire moxibustion can significantly improve the clinical symptoms of patients with hypomenorrhea after induced abortion; it can increase menstrual volume and endometrial thickness, and regulate the sex hormone levels, producing a better curative effect than the conventional hormone sequential therapy.

Objective To explore the expression and significance of uncoupling protein (UCP)2in rats models of acute liver failure (ALF). Methods Thirty-six healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group and model group, and the model group was divided into 5 subgroups:6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 hours sub groups with 6 rats in each sub group. The rat model of ALF was established by intraperitoneal injections of D-galactosamine (D-Gal) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS).Sections of liver tissue were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and observed under optical microscope.UCP2 and UCP2 mRNA in rat liver were determined at different time points with immunohistochemical method and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction ( RT-PCR ),respectively. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in the liver tissues were analyzed at the same time points.Comparisons among all the experimental groups were done by SNK test. Results Infiltration of inflammatory cells and necrosis of hepatic cells were marked in model group,and ALT, AST and MDA in model group were significantly higher than those in control group [(24. 0 ± 2. 0) U/L, (82. 3±16. 9) U/L, (2. 55±0. 22)μmol/g] at all time points. And they reached a peak at 24 h [(8346. 7±1363. 1) U/L, (9766. 7±1274. 1) U/L, (8. 34±1. 13) μmol/g; all P<0. 05]. UCP2 and UCP2 mRNA expressed scarcely in the liver tissues of control group, while increased markedly from 6 to 48 hours after D-Gal/LPS challenge in model group (P<0. 05). They both reached a peak at 24 h. And the discrepancy between consecutive experimental group had statistical significance ( P < 0. 05).Conclusions The rat model of ALF was established successfully by intraperitoneal injections of D-gal and LPS. The expression levels of UCP2 mRNA and UCP2 are consistent with the extent of liver injury and the level of oxidative stress in the rat model of ALF.

Objective To study the effectiveness and feasibility of low intensity of aerobic bicycle ergometer training on hemiplegic stroke patients unable to perform assistive or independent ambulation.Methods Thirty stroke patients unable of assistive or independent ambulation were randomly divided into a control group and a aerobic training group.Patients in the aerobic training group performed low intensity of aerobic bicycle ergometer training for 30 min,3 times a week for 6 weeks in addition to a routine rehabilitation regime.The training duration and course of routine rehabilitation training were the same in both groups.The related cardiovascular response in aerobic training and changes in motor performance as well as the risk factors for stroke were observed in both groups.Results Twenty-four patients(12 patients in each group)completed the experiment.Patients in aerobic training group performed all training regime safely without any adverse response.Their motor function(including FMA score,Rivermead index,BI ADL ability),exercise endurance duration in exercise test,glucose level at 2 h in oral glucose tolerance test,fasting insulin level and HOMA-IR index all improved greatly as compared to the control group(P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Low intensity of aerobic bicycle ergometer training can be safely and effectively administered in hemiplegic stroke patients unable of assistive ambulation or independent ambulation.

Objective To establish the in vivo models of adriamycin(ADR)-induced cardiotoxicity in rabbits, investigate the protective effect of oxymatrine (OMT) on ADR-induced cardiotoxicity, and explore the possible mechanism. Methods Twenty-six rabbits were randomly divided into ADR group (n=8, 2 mg/kg ADR), OMT group (n=5, 10 mg/kg OMT), ADR + OMT group (n=8, 10 mg/kg OMT was injected 30 min before ADR injection) and saline group (n=5, same quantity of normal saline), and rabbits in each group were infused with medicine or normal saline through ear marginal vein once a week for 8 weeks. The apoptosis of myocardial cells was detected by TUNEL methods, and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) was determined. Results After treatment, the body weight of ADR group was significantly lower than that of the other groups(P < 0.05), the activity of SOD and GSH-Px significantly decreased and the apoptosis index (AI) was significantly higher than that of the other groups(P <0.01). There were similar while minor changes in ADR + OMT group. There was no significant adverse effects in OMT group. Conclusion OMT protects heart from adriamycin-induced injury in rabbits, which may relate to the decrease in level of antioxidant and apoptosis of myocardial cells.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy difference in treating irritable bowel syndrome-diarrhea (IBS-D) of liver-qi stagnation and spleen-deficiency pattern with different treatment protocols, and the effects on serum levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), for unveiling the mechanism of intradermal needle therapy plus pinaverium bromide in treating IBS-D. Methods: A total of 123 IBS-D patients were divided into an observation group, a Western medication group and an integrated Western and Chinese medication group using the random number table method, with 41 cases in each group. The Western medication group was given oral pinaverium bromide, 50 mg each time and 3 times a day. The integrated Western and Chinese medication group was given additional Chinese herbal medicine Tong Xie Yao Fang, one dose each day. The observation group was given additional intradermal needle therapy on the basis of the Western medication group. The whole intervention lasted for 6 weeks. Before and after treatment, the scores of gastrointestinal symptoms, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptoms, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptom severity scale (IBS-SSS) and IBS quality of life (IBS-QOL) questionnaire, as well as the serum levels of 5-HT, SP and VIP were observed. The clinical efficacy was estimated. Results: The total effective rate was 92.7％ in the observation group, 68.3％ in the Western medication group and 78.1％ in the integrated Western and Chinese medication group. The total effective rate was higher in the observation group than in the other two groups, and higher in the integrated Western and Chinese medication group than in the Western medication group, showing statistical significance (all P<0.05). After treatment, the scores of gastrointestinal symptoms, TCM symptoms and IBS-SSS showed significant decreases in the three groups, presenting statistical significance compared with the baseline (all P<0.05); the scores of gastrointestinal symptoms, TCM symptoms and IBS-SSS were notably lower in the observation group than in the other two groups (all P<0.05), and lower in the integrated Western and Chinese medication group than in the Western medication group (all P<0.05). After treatment, the eight component scores of IBS-QOL showed significant increases in the three groups compared with the baseline (all P<0.05); the eight component scores in IBS-QOL were significantly higher in the observation group than in the other two groups (all P<0.05), and higher in the integrated Western and Chinese medication group than in the Western medication group (all P<0.05). After treatment, the serum levels of 5-HT, SP and VIP decreased markedly in the three groups compared with the baseline (all P<0.05); the serum levels of 5-HT, SP and VIP were significantly lower in the observation group than in the other two groups (all P<0.05), and lower in the integrated Western and Chinese medication group than in the Western medication group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Treatment with intradermal needle therapy plus pinaverium bromide results in significant improvements in the gastrointestinal symptoms and quality of life in patients with IBS-D of liver-qi stagnation and spleen deficiency pattern, and effectively regulates the gastrointestinal hormone production.

Twenty-five hybrid dogs were injected intravenously with oleic acid of the dose 0.3 ml/kg of body weight to prepare a model of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) . The animals were killed 24 hours after injection. PaO2, PaCO2 and pH of the arterial and mixed venous blood were determined before and immediately, 0.5, 1?2, 4, 6, 22 and 24 hours after injection. The average pulmonary arterial pressure was measured hourly. The chest x-ray films were taken 2,4, 6 and 24 hours after injection. The electrolytes T3, T4, the hematocrit and RBC count, and the serum corticosteroid level were measured before and 24 hours after injection.25 dogs were divided into two groups; the control group consisted of 8 dogs and the therapeutic group consisted of 17 dogs, among which nine were treated with hyosine hydrobromide and 8 with dexamethasone. The histologic specimens of the animals of the control group and hyosine hydrobromide treated group were examined with both light and electron microscopes but the specimens of the animals of dexamethasone treated group were examined with light microscope only.It was found that dexamethasone is effective in the treatment of RDS produced with oleic acid injection while hyosine hydrobromide is of no value.

Objective To elucidate the effects of SP600125 at different concentrations on the proliferation and osteo-differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs).Methods The hASCs harvested were cocuhured with SP600125 at concentrations of 0 μmol/L,1 μmol/L,5 μmol/L and 10 μmol/L in growth medium (OM group) and in osteogenesis medium (OM group),respectively.The DNA quantitative assay was carried out to evaluate proliferation of the hASCs;flow cytometry was used to determine the effect of SP600125 on the cell cycles of hASCs;Alkaline phosphatase level (ALP) and calcium deposition tests were conducted to observe the effects of SP600125 at different concentrations on osteogenic differentiation of the hASCs.Results The proliferation of hASCs was inhibited by 42.1％ when the cells were cocultured with SP600125 at the concentration of 10 μmol/L;the suppression decreased with decreased concentration of SP600125.The hASCs of phase G0/G1 in GM cocultured with SP600125 at the concentration of 10 μmol/L were more than those in GM cocultured with dimethylsulfoxide at the same concentration.ALP test revealed that after 10 days of culture in vitro the staining was more and more weakened and scattered and the ALP activity was more and more decreased with the increased concentration of SP600125.The extracellular calcium deposition of hASCs after 14 days of culture in vitro showed that the size and number of calcium nodules decreased with the increased concentration of SP600125.Conclusion SP600125 can suppress the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of hASCs in vitro.

OBJECTIVETo develop an experimental rat model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by administration of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), and to observe changes in the tight junction protein expression and permeability of colon mucosa.

METHODSMale Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into control (n=27) and IBD model groups (n=27). In the IBD model group, IBD was induced by 6-day administration of 3% DSS in water followed by 14-day administration of water only. The control group was fed with water only. Pathological changes in colon mucosae were observed on days 7, 14 and 21 after DSS administration. Colon tissue specimens were collected on day 21 for measuring myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. The transepithelial electric resistance (TEER), transepithelial potential difference (TEPD) and short circuit current (Isc) of the specimens were measured by Ussing chamber. Real-time PCR and Western blot were used to measure the mRNA and protein expression of tight junction proteins in colon epithelia.

RESULTSIn the IBD model group, diarrhea, hemafecia and weight loss were seen. Inflammation occurred mainly in the distal colon and was characterized by crypt abscess and inflammatory cell infiltration. The IBD model group showed significantly increased MPO activity (P<0.01), significantly decreased TEER (P<0.01) and TEPD (P<0.01), and significantly increased Isc (P<0.01) compared with the control group. No claudin 2 expression of mRNA and protein was detected in the control group, and they were expressed in the IBD model group. The expression levels of claudin 3, occludin and ZO-1 in the IBD model group were significantly decreased compared with in the control group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIBD rats show colonic barrier dysfunction and changes in the expression of tight junction proteins. The changes in the expression of tight junction proteins may contribute to colonic barrier dysfunction in cases of IBD in the chronic recovery stage.

Animals ; Claudin-3 ; analysis ; Colon ; metabolism ; pathology ; Dextran Sulfate ; Disease Models, Animal ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Male ; Occludin ; analysis ; Permeability ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tight Junction Proteins ; analysis ; Zonula Occludens-1 Protein ; analysis

Objective To compare the diagnostic value of renal ultrasound scan (RUS) and 99Tcmdimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) renal scintigraphy in children with acute pyelonephritis (APN). Methods In all, 165 children with initial clinical diagnosis of APN, aged from 1.5 months to 11 yrs ( median 20 months), were included in the study, all of which were examined with RUS and DMSA renal scientigraphy. The diagnosis with DMSA renal scientigraphy results was taken as the standard reference to evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of RUS. Results Of 99 out of all 330 kidneys that were found abnormal on DMSA renal scientigraphy, 31 were abnormal on RUS. Of the rest normal kidneys on DMSA scans renal scientigraphy, 4 were abnormal on RUS. Thus diagnostic sensitivity of RUS for APN was 31.3%(31/99) and specificity was 98.3% (227/231). Conclusions Although RUS provides with high diagnostic specificity for children with APN, its low sensitivity may underestimate the clinical evaluation of APN.More often than not, 99Tcm-DMSA renal scientigraphy is a clinical necesscity for the definite RUS diagnosis.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Chitosan ; pharmacology ; DNA, Viral ; isolation & purification ; Hepatocytes ; virology ; Nanofibers ; Primary Cell Culture ; Swine ; Transplants ; virology