Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of heat-sensitive point thunder-fire moxibustion in treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods One hundred and forty-eight KOA patients were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 74 cases each. The treatment group received heat-sensitive point thunder-fire moxibustion and the control group took diclofenac sodium enteric-coated tablets. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score and 50 yards fastest walking time were observed in the two groups before and after 30 days of treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups. Results There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in the VAS score and WOMAC subscores in the two groups (P<0.01). There was a statistically significant pre-/post-treatment difference in 50 yards fastest walking time in the treatment group (P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in the VAS score, the WOMAC score and the WOMAC pain and stiffness scores between the treatment and control groups (P<0.01). There were statistically significant differences in the VAS and WOMAC scores at three months after treatment between the treatment and control groups (P<0.01). The total efficacy rate was 95.9%at the end of treatment and 95.6%at three months after treatment in the treatment group, and 86.1%at the end of treatment and 86.8%at three months after treatment in the control group; there were statistically significant differences between the two groups (P<0.05). Conclusion Heat-sensitive point thunder-fire moxibustion is an effective way to treat knee osteoarthritis.

Cadherins ; genetics ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; genetics ; pathology ; Humans

This paper introduces a kind of bone mineral density(BMD) measuring system with quantitative CT(QCT). This system includs a self-made solid calibration phantom for BMD and the measuring software. The results of the tests have showed that this system is reliable,cheap and ease of use for BMD measurement.

Objective To explore the teaching effects of physiology lectures and students' attitude to lectures,their suggestions for contents,forms and other aspects of lectures.Methods Random sampling questionnaire survey was conducted among 500 students of 2008 grade and 2009 grade in Xiangya medical school of central south university.The percentage of the option in the questionnaire was calculated and the findings were directly described.Results All students thought that physiology lectures were necessary.Teachers should arrange lectures which students were interested in,pay attention to inspire thinking and enhance teacher-student interaction.67.6％ of students thought that the knowledge learned from lectures can be used in expanding scientific thinking.Conclusions The lectures are popular among most students,playing an important role in cultivating students' ability of strict scientific thinking.

AlM:To study the relationship between JAK-STAT pathway and epithelial - mesenchymal transition in human lens epithelial cells. Meanwhile, the function of AG490 as a JAK inhibitor was also demonstrated in this article.
METHODS:Human lens epithelial cells SRA01/04 ( LECs ) were treated by low concentration of glucose (5. 5mmol/L). High concentration of glucose (30. 5mmol/L) was used to treat the cells in order to form the high glucose model. According to adding AG490 or not, cells were divided into the control group and the experimental group, appropriate concentration 10ü mol/L and 50ü mol/L of AG490 were chosen and acting time of 6, 12, 24, 48h were selected. Effect of AG490 on cell migration was measured by wound healing test. The expression of TGF-β1 , FN,α-SMA mRNA were examined by RT-PCR.
RESULTS:With the prolonged acting time ( 6, 12, 24 and 48h), cell activity increased in the HG group, as well as more expression of TGF-β1 , FN,α-SMA mRNA were detected compared to the LG group (P<0. 05). ln AG490 group, the cell migration activity and expression of TGF-β1 , FN,α-SMA mRNA decreased compared to the HG group (P<0. 05).
CONCLUSlON:JAK-STAT pathway takes part in high glucose-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human lens epithelial cells. The mechanism is that it impacts the transcriptional expression of TGF- β1 and extracellular matrix. AG490, a JAK inhibitor, inhibits high glucose-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human lens epithelial cells, And the inhibition enhances with the increasing concentration of AG490.

Objective To investigate the thermal effects on tissue structures during microwave endometrial ablation(MEA)and seek a feasible method of endometrial thinning and a fitting mode of applicator radiating microwaves.Methods Operations were performed between the group of thorough uterine curettage and the group of early follicular phase in in vitro or in vivo uterus.The former was treated with MEA after thorough uterine curettage;while the latter was treated with MEA in the early follicular phase directly.The applicator radiating microwaves were moved in "Z" or "Z+W" shape inside uterine cavity.At the same time the serosal temperature was measured in the uterine fundus,tael cornua uteri,the posterior wall and the lower part of anterior wall.After operations the uterine specimens were stained by hematoxylin- eosin,and respiratory enzyme dehydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase(NADH-d) methods.The morphologic changes and the depth of tissue thermal damage were evaluated using an optical microscope and electron microscope.Results(1)Under the optical microscope the endometrial glands became distorted,the cell boundaries disappeared,the nucleoli turned condensed and were stained darker. A large number of acute inflammatory cells appeared in fibrous tissue.In the shallow muscle layer cells were arrayed thickly,nucleoli were solidified and condensed,and cellular plasm were concentrated.The endometrial and the superficial muscle layers were damaged and colorless with NADH-d staining.The scope of the tissue thermal damage was clearly seen.Under an electron microscope,some smooth muscle ceils, chromatin,karyotheca and cellular membranes were destroyed.The mitochondria were swollen,membranes were ruptured,and the crista disappeared.Many organelles were destroyed.The chromatin was lightly wrecked in the transitional area between putrescence and the normal smooth muscle tissue.Karyotheca and cellular plasm still existed,the mitochondria were highly edematous and the crista were disappeared,and the granular endoplasmic reticula were slightly expanded and degranulated.(2)The serosal temperature in in vitro uterus was significantly higher than that in in vivo uterus(P0.05).The injury depth of the "Z+ W" radiation group increased significantly than that of the " Z" radiation group(P

Objective To investigate the possibility of chest approach gasless endoscopic surgery for the parathy-roid tumor. Methods Through a 2 cm incision on the surface of chest bone, a gasless procedure was developed to management of parathyroid tumor in our department. There were 2 cases of the parathyroid cyst-adenoma were dis-sected. Results 2 cases were successfully performed, and there were no paralyze of the revers laryngeal nerve and hypofunction of parathyroid could be observed. The cosmic and mini-invasive results were obtained. Conclusion Chest approach gasless endoscopic surgery for parathyroid tumor is a safe, mini-invasive, and cosmic procedure for selected patients.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of late accelerated hyperfractionated conformal radiotherapy (LACF) combined with capecitabine on esophageal carcinoma.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty eight patients of esophageal cancer were randomly divided into 3 groups, including the radiotherapy alone group (CF) which received conventional conformal radiotherapy to a total of 60 - 66 Gy, LCAF group which received conventional fractionated conformal radiotherapy during the first two-thirds of the treatment to a dose about 40 Gy/20F/4W, then followed by late accelerated hyperfractionated conformal radiotherapy, twice daily radiotherapy at 1.3 Gy per fraction to a total dose about 64 - 69 Gy, and LCAF + C group (late accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy combined with capecitabine), in which patients were treated as the same as the LCAF group, except that they were treated with capecitabine (1.5 g po bid) from beginning of the radiotherapy to the end.

RESULTSThe short-term results of the 3 groups were 74.0%, 85.5% and 95.2%, respectively (P = 0.006). The local control rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 64.0%, 30.0%, 24.0% in the CF group, 81.8%, 65.5%, 58.2% in the LCAF group and 90.1%, 77.8%, 74.6% in the LCAF+C group, respectively. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates of the 3 groups were 58.0%, 20.0%, 8.0%; 78.2%, 36.4%, 17.0% and 85.7%, 55.6%, 30.2%, respectively. The effect of LCAF+C group was better than that of LCAF group and CF group. The incidence of acute tracheitis and acute esophagitis in the LCAF+C group and LCAF group was higher than that in the CF group, but there was no stastistically significant difference between the 2 groups. There was no statistically significant difference in distant metastasis in the 3 groups.

CONCLUSIONSCapecitabine, as an effective chemosensitizater combined with late accelerate hyperfractionated radiotherapy can improve the short-term results of treatment of esophageal cancer. The value of this combined treatment in distant metastasis reqires further study in the clinic.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; therapeutic use ; Capecitabine ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Deoxycytidine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Dose Fractionation ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy ; Esophagitis ; etiology ; Fluorouracil ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Radiation Pneumonitis ; etiology ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; adverse effects ; methods ; Remission Induction ; Survival Rate

Temporins are a kind of small,hydrophobic and C-terminus amidated antimicrobial peptides from Rana species.They are effective against bacteria,fungi,yeast,protozoa and viruses.Two novel temporins named as temporin-La(LLRHWKILEKYLanifc) and temporin-Lb(LFRHVVKIFEK.Ylamid.) were cloned from Lithobates catesbeianus.Synthetic peptides of temporin-La and temporin-Lb showed strong antimicrobial activities against bacteria tested,especially Gram-positive bacteria.Besides,temporin-La showed no haemolytic activity to rabbit erythrocytes at the concentration of 250 mg/L while temporin-Lb showed weak haemolytic activity(LC50≈ 230 μmol/L).Transmission electron microscopy showed that temporin-La and temporin-Lb induced different effects on bacterial structure of Staphylococcus aureus.

This study investigated the accuracy of MRI features in differentiating the pathological grades of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PNENs).A total of 31 PNENs patients were retrospectively evaluated,including 19 cases in grade 1,5 in grade 2,and 7 in grade 3.Plain and contrastenhanced MRI was performed on all patients.MRI features including tumor size,margin,signal intensity,enhancement patterns,degenerative changes,duct dilatation and metastasis were analyzed.Chi square tests,Fisher's exact tests,one-way ANOVA and ROC analysis were conducted to assess the associations between MRI features and different tumor grades.It was found that patients with older age,tumors with higher TNM stage and without hormonal syndrome had higher grade of PNETs (all P＜0.05).Tumor size,shape,margin and growth pattern,tumor pattern,pancreatic and bile duct dilatation and presence of lymphatic and distant metastasis as well as MR enhancement pattern and tumor-topancreas contrast during arterial phase were the key features differentiating tumors of all grades (all P＜0.05).ROC analysis revealed that the tumor size with threshold of 2.8 cm,irregular shape,pancreatic duct dilatation and lymphadenopathy showed satisfactory sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing grade 3 from grade 1 and grade 2 tumors.Features ofperipancreatic tissue or vascular invasion,and distant metastasis showed high specificity but relatively low sensitivity.In conclusion,larger size,poorlydefined margin,heterogeneous enhanced pattern during arterial phase,duct dilatation and the presence of metastases are common features of higher grade PNENs.Plain and contrast-enhanced MRI provides the ability to differentiate tumors with different pathological grades.