Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis ; therapy ; Male ; Medicine in Literature ; Middle Aged ; Pruritus ; therapy

AIM: To study the characteristic of liver X receptor alpha (LXRα), its target gene expression and cholesterol efflux in human macrophages treated with atorvastatin. METHODS: Human monocyte-derived macrophages were collected and cultured. Macrophages were treated with or without atorvastatin. Apolipoprotein A-I mediated human monocyte-derived macrophage cholesterol efflux was detected by liquid scintillation counting method. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to evaluate the mRNA expression of LXRα and some of its target genes ABCA1, SREBP2, CETP, PLTP, apoE, MMP-9 and MIP-1α. The protein expression of LXRα, ABCA1, MMP-9 and MIP-1α was determined by Western blotting. RESULTS: Pre-incubation of human monocyte-derived macrophages with atorvastatin dose dependently (1-2 μmol/L) stimulated cholesterol efflux mediated by apolipoprotein A-I. Atorvastatin also increased the mRNA expression of LXRα, ABCA1, SREBP2, CETP, PLTP, and protein expression of LXRα, ABCA1, but decreased the expression of MMP-9 and MIP-1α at both mRNA and protein levels. CONCLUSION: Atorvastatin enhances the cholesterol efflux, upregulates LXR and some genes associated with cholesterol metabolism and inhibits inflammatory responses in macrophages, indicating that statins may affect the formation of foam cells by activating LXR signaling pathway.

Conus textile is a kind of highly toxic and abundantly existing conus in the South China Sea. The toxin from C.textile could act on sodium channels(δ-conotoxins)and calcium channels (ω-，ε-conotoxins), respectively. Their specific chemical structure and biological activity have attracted a lot of attention in recent years. This article briefly reviews their biochemical characteristics, isolation, gene cloning, biological and neuropharmacological activities, as well as their potential applications.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to observe the effect of early goal directed therapy (EGDT) on tissue perfusion, microcirculation and tissue oxygenation in patients with septic shock. METHODS: Patients with early septic shock (<24 hours) who had been admitted to the ICU of Zhongda Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University from September 2009 through May 2011 were enrolled (research time: 12 months), and they didn't meet the criteria of EGDT. Patients who had one of the following were excluded: stroke, brain injury, other types of shock, severe heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, age below 18 years, pregnancy, end-stage disease, cardiac arrest, extensive burns, oral bleeding, difficulty in opening the mouth, and the onset of septic shock beyond 24 hours. Patients treated with the standard protocol of EGDT were included. Transcutaneous pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide (PtcO2, PtcCO2) were monitored and hemodynamic measurements were obtained. Side-stream dark field (SDF) imaging device was applied to obtain sublingual microcirculation. Hemodynamics, tissue oxygen, and sublingual microcirculation were compared before and after EGDT. If the variable meets the normal distribution, Student's t test was applied. Otherwise, Wilcoxon's rank-sum test was used. Correlation between variables was analyzed with Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient method. RESULTS: Twenty patients were involved, but one patient wasn't analyzed because he didn't meet the EGDT criteria. PtcO2 and PtcCO2 were monitored in 19 patients, of whom sublingual microcirculation was obtained. After EGDT, PtcO2 increased from 62.7±24.0 mmHg to 78.0±30.9 mmHg (P<0.05) and tissue oxygenation index (PtcO2/FiO2) was 110.7±60.4 mmHg before EGDT and 141.6±78.2 mmHg after EGDT (P<0.05). The difference between PtcCO2 and PCO2 decreased significantly after EGDT (P<0.05). The density of perfused small vessels (PPV) and microcirculatory flow index of small vessels (MFI) tended to increase, but there were no significant differences between them (P>0.05). PtcO2, PtcO2/FiO2, and PtcCO2 were not linearly related to central venous saturation, lactate, oxygen delivery, and oxygen consumption (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Peripheral perfusion was improved after EGDT in patients with septic shock, and it was not exactly reflected by the index of systemic perfusion.

Orjective:To obtain recombinant CHO-K1 with expressing sPDGFR? and to identify the biological activities of sPDGFR? secreted in non-serum medium.Methods:Recombinant human sPDGFR? expression vector pIRES-Neo3-sPDGFR?-Fc was constructed and then transfected into CHO-K1 cells by using LipofectamineTM 2000.After screened with G418 in 8 weeks,some monoclone cells were selected randomly to amplify in 96-well-plate to 24-well-plates,and then to identify positive cell clones by RT-PCR.Furthermore,the candidate cell clones were test by Real-Time PCR and Western blot assays.Finally,anti-proliferation activities of the expressed sPDGFR? were analyzed by MTT.Results:sPDGFR?-Fc was cloned into pIRES-Neo3 correctly.The sPDGFR?-Fc expression level in recombinant CHO-K1 cell clones were concordant in between Realtime PCR and Western blot assay.sPDGFR?-Fc obtained from cultured non-serum medium of positive CHO-K1 could significantly inhibit proliferation of vascular endothelial cell.Conclusion:Successed to select recombinant CHO-K1 cell lines with high expressed sPDGFR?-Fc.The sPDGFR?-Fc can inhibit the cell proliferation significantly and it means sPDGFR?-Fc might be a new anti-cancer drug in the future.

Objective　To study the significance of alteration of concentration of endothelins(ET) and calcitonin gene related protein(CGRP) in bile in patients with acute choiangitis of severe type(ACST). Methods　The concentration of ET and CGRP were detected by radioimmunoassay in 55 cases of ACST at openation time, and 7th, 14th day after operation. Results　Compared with the control group, the concentration of ET in bile in patients with ACST was significantly higher at operation time(P<0.01～0.001). The concentration of ET in bile also showed significant difference at operation time between the 2 groups with different ACST severity(P<0.05). The concentration of ET in bile gradually reduced after operations. Compared with the control group, the concentration of CGRP in bile was signficantly lower at operation time(P<0.01). CGRP in bile gradually rose after operation. Conclusions　The ET in bile has some effect on the ACST pathologic alterations. The content of ET in bile is related to the severity of ACST. The disturbance of the balance between bile ET and CGRP may contribute to the pathologic process of liver and bile duct injury in ACST.

Objective To summarize the clinical characteristics and diagnosis and treatment of hemangioma of small intestine in children.Methods Location,pathology,clinical manifestation,diagnosis and treatment of 3 cases from our hospital and 44 cases reported in our courtry with hemangioma of the small bowel were analyzed from 1994 to 2004.Results These tumors locating in jejunum,ileum,duodenum as well as parts small intestine were 31.9%,42.6%,4.2% and 21.3%,respectively.Solitary and multiple tumors were 29.8% and 70.2% separately.The histopatholical report of 10 cases revealed that capillary,cavernous,mixed type hemangioma and hematolymphangioma were 2,6,1 and 1 cases,respectively.Thirty nine children presented with recurrent black stool.Five patients manifest in the form of intussusception.One child passed a bloody stool so massive as to cause shock.Small-bowel obstruction occurred in 5 cases.The hemoglobin of 38 patients were lower than 90 g/L.The incidence of preoperative diagnosis was only 10.6%.All of patients were performed operation.Conclusions The frequent locations of hemangioma of small intestine are in ileum and jejunum,and multiple tumors are common.The diseases are characterized as recurrent hematochezia with painlessness.Preoperative diagnosis of a small bowel hemangioma can be very difficult.The segments of small bowel with hemangioma resection are the most method of the treatment.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the time course of granulocyte-colony-stimulating-factor (G-CSF), estrogen and various doses of atorvastatin on endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) mobilization.

METHODA total of 48 male New Zealand White rabbits were treated with placebo, estrogen (0.25 mg.k(-1).d(-1)), Atorvastatin (2.5, 5, or 10 mg) and G-CSF (50 microg/rabbit/d), respectively. Peripheral EPCs number was surveyed weekly for 4 weeks by FACS analysis (double-positive for PE-CD34/FITC-CD133) and under fluorescent microscope (double-positive for FITC-UEA-1/Dil-acLDL). Serum nitric oxide (NO) and lipids were also measured at the third week.

RESULTSPeripheral EPCs was significantly increased in G-CSF treated animals and remained constant for 4 weeks compared to placebo treated animals. Atorvastatin increased peripheral EPCs dose-dependently from 2.5 to 5 mg and peaked at the third week while peripheral EPCs number was not affected by 10 mg.k(-1).d(-1) atorvastatin during the first 3 weeks and was significantly higher only in the fourth week compared to placebo group. Estrogen also significantly increased peripheral EPCs at the third and fourth week compared to placebo group. At the third week, serum NO was similar in G-CSF group, significantly higher in atorvastatin 5 mg.k(-1).d(-1) and estrogen groups while significantly lower in atorvastatin 10 mg.k(-1).d(-1) group compared to placebo group. Serum lipids were similar among various groups.

CONCLUSIONAtorvastatin, estrogen and G-CSF could mobilize EPCs. The mobilization efficacy is as follows: G-CSF > atorvastatin 5 mg.k(-1).d(-1) > estrogen > atorvastatin 2.5 mg.k(-1).d(-1) > atorvastatin 10 mg.k(-1).d(-1). NO might partly contribute to the mobilizing effect of estrogen and atorvastatin.

Animals ; Atorvastatin Calcium ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Estrogens ; pharmacology ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; pharmacology ; Heptanoic Acids ; pharmacology ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Pyrroles ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Proteins ; Stem Cells ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo search for the best program for treatment of peripheral nerve incomplete injury.

METHODSNinety cases were randomly divided into a treatment group, a control group I and a control group II, 30 cases in each group. The treatment group were treated with electroacupuncture at Jianyu (LI 15), Hegu (LI 4), Quchi (LI 11), etc. plus functional training, and the control group I with electroacupuncture and the control group H with functional training. After treatment for 3 months, basic function, practical function, EMG, nerve conduction velocity were compared among the 3 groups.

RESULTSThe good rate of basic function of 50.0%, the curemarkedly effective rate of practical function of 50.0% and the total effective rate of neurophysiology of 64.3% in the treatment group were better than 20.7%, 17.2%, 41.4% in the control group I (P < 0.05) and 23.3%, 20.0% and 36.O7% in the control group II (P 0.05).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture combined with functional training can accelerate nervous repair, promote functional recovery of the denervated muscles, so as to shorten the restoring time of nerve-muscle and increase life quality of the patient.

Adult ; Electroacupuncture ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; Peripheral Nerves ; physiopathology ; Physical Therapy Modalities ; Upper Extremity ; innervation

Adult ; Disease Outbreaks ; Humans ; Metapneumovirus ; Paramyxoviridae Infections ; epidemiology ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; Students