This article discusses the functions of massage in acupuncture treatment and argues that massage acts to diagnose diseases, locate acupoints, activate meridian qi before acupuncture treatment,protect healthy qi, dispel pathogenic factors, promote qi arrival and movement during acupuncture treatment, warm and nourish the body, and further promote qi movement and eliminate pathogenic factors after acupuncture treatment. Therefore, massage complements with acupuncture and becomes an essential method in acupuncture treatment.

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of changes of serum amylase, CRP and SAA in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. Methods The levels of serum and urine amylase, CRP and SAA in patients of mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) and severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) at 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and the seventh day after the onset of pancreatitis were measured. Results The levels of serum, urine amylase, CRP and SAA in SAP patients at 24h were (904.5±402.2)U/L, (2280.3±1207.3)U/L, (155.6±36.2) mg/L, (521.9±109.4)mg/L, respectively, and significantly higher than those of MAP patients (P＜0.05 or P＜0.001). The peak value of serum amylase appeared at 24h, however, the peak value of urine amylase, CRP and SAA appeared at 48 h, and the corresponding values were (2173.5±1110.6) U/L, (185.3±41.4) mg/L and (717.5±144.2)mg/L, respectively. The levels of serum and urine amylase significantly decreases in MAP and SAP patients at the seventh day (P＜0.05). The levels of serum CRP and SAA significantly decreased in MAP patients at the seventh day (P＜0.05), however, the levels of serum CRP and SAA did not significantly decrease in SAP patients at the seventh day (P＞0.05). Serum levels of CRP and SAA were related to the severity of acute pancreatitis. Meanwhile CRP showed a positive correlation with SAA (r = 0.761, P＜0.05). Conclusions The change of serum levels of amylase, CRP and SAA can help early diagnose acute pancreatitis; CRP and SAA may predict the development of SAP at early stage.

Objective To evaluate the value of the Bedside Index for Severity in Acute Pancreatitis (BISAP) in diagnosing severe acute pancreatitis. Methods Sixty-eight patients with suspected diagnosis of severe acute pancreatitis were collected and were scored by BISAP, APACHE Ⅱ , Ranson and CTSI scoring systems, respectively. BISAP scoring system included the blood urea nitrogen, impaired mental status,systemic inflammatory response syndrome, age, and pleural effusion. The diagnosis criteria of severe acute pancreatitis was BISAP ≥ 3 points or APACHE IⅡ ≥ 8 points, Ranson ≥ 3 points, CTSI ≥ 3 points. The diagnostic accuracy of SAP of these scoring systems was calculated. Results Among these 68 cases, 63.2％(43/68) were graded ≥ 3 points in BISAP scoring system;60.3％ (41/68) were marked ≥8 points in APACHE Ⅱ scoring system; 60.3％ (41/68) were scored ≥ 3 points in Ranson scoring system; and 67.6％(46/68) were scored ≥3 points in CTSI scoring system. There was no statistical difference between BISAP scoring system and other three scoring systems in diagnosing severe acute pancreatitis. Conclusions As a new and simple scoring system, BISAP scoring system can be widely used in the diagnosis of severe acute pancreatitis.

Aim To investigate the protective effects of hydrogen sulfide ( H2 S) on focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats and the possible mechanisms. Methods Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups randomly: sham-operated group, cerebral ischemia/ reperfusion ( I/R) group and sodium hydro-sulfide ( NaHS ) + I/R group. The left temporary middle cerebral artery occlusion ( MCAO ) model was established by the line-embolism method. After rats were suffered 2h/24h ischemia/reperfusion stress, the mortality rate was evaluated, and the nervous function-al defect degree was evaluated by Longe scoring, the volumes of cerebral infarction was evaluated by 2 ,3 ,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride ( TTC) staining, and the expression of P2X7 receptor protein in brain tissue was detected by the immunofluorescence method. Results The mortality rate in NaHS + I/R rats ( 29.41%) was obviously lower than those of I/R group ( 42 . 86%) . The nervous defect scores in NaHS + I/R rats were significant lower than those of I/R group ( P <0.05 ) . The volumes of cerebral infarction in NaHS +I/R group (21.88% ±3.53%) were significant lower than those of I/R group ( 36.71% ±3.73%) ( P <0.01 ) . The results of immunofluorescence showed that the positive expression cells of P2X7 receptor protein in cerebral cortex and hippocampal CA1 area of I/R group were significantly higher than those of sham-op-erated group(P<0. 01). However, compared with I/R group, the positive expression cells of P2X7 receptor protein in cerebral cortex and hippocampal CA1 area of NaHS + I/R group were significantly decreased ( P<0. 01). Conclusions H2S exerts the neuroprotective effect on focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats, and the protective mechanism might be associated with down-regulating the expression of P2X7 receptor protein in brain tissue.

[ABSTRACT]AIM:ToexaminetheeffectsofhighconcentrationofextracellularATPonhumanneuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell injury.METHODS: Cultured SH-SY5Y cells were grouped according to the concentrations of ATP and treatment time.The cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay.The variation of autophagic vacuoles was observed with monodansylcadaverine staining .The cell apoptosis was analyzed by Hoechst 33258 staining.Meanwhile, apoptotic rate was detected by flow cytometry .The levels of caspase-3 and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-Ⅱ ( LC3-Ⅱ) were determined by Western blotting .RESULTS:Compared with control group , the survival rate of SH-SY5Y cells was signifi-cantly reduced by ATP at different concentrations (3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 mmol/L for 3 h) and different treatment time (1, 2, 3 and 6 h with 6 mmol/L ATP, peaking at 3 h).The autophagic vacuoles of SH-SY5Y cells were significantly increased at 1 h with ATP treatment , trended to decrease over time and returned to control level at 6 h.The protein expression of LC3-Ⅱwas significantly increased at 1 h with ATP treatment , which was consistent with the time points of increasing auto-phagic vacuoles .LC3-Ⅱexpression level gradually decreased at 2~3 h with ATP treatment , and returned to control level at 6 h.Compared with control group , the apoptotic rate and the expression level of caspase-3 were enhanced synchronously . The peak of apoptotic rate occurred at 3 h, and kept until 6 h.The level of cleaved caspase-3 expression peaked at 6 h. CONCLUSION:High concentration of extracellular ATP induces the autophagy and apoptosis of SH -SY5Y cells.The in-creased autophagy shows up , followed by the climax of apoptosis until 6 h.With the prolonged duration of ATP , apoptosis is the main process in the cells .

Objective To detecte the expression of COX-2,VEGF-C and lymphatic vessel density (LVD)in pancreatic cancerous and paracancerous tissues,and investigate their correlation.Methods The expression of COX-2.VEGF-C and LVD in 40 cases of pancreatic cancer tissues and paracancerous tissues and 12 cases of normal pancreas was detected by tissue chip and immunohistochemical assays,and the relationship between them and the cljnicopathological parameters was analyzed. Results The expression of COX-2,VEGF-C in pancreatic cancer tissues were 70.0%(28/40)and 67.5%(27/40),respectively,which were significantly higher than that in paracancerous tissues(42.5%,17/40)and(35.0%,14/40),and that in normal pancreas(8.3%,1/12)and(25.0%,3/12).The LVD in pancreatic cancerous,paracancerous and normal pancreatic tissues were 4.75±2.77,15.2 ±4.70 and 1.67±1.15,respectively.The expression of COX-2 in cancerous tissues and LVD in paracancerous tissues was correlated with tumor differentiation and lymph metastasis;the expression of VEGF-C Was correlated with lymph metastasis.LVD in paracancerous tissues was correlated with the expression of COX-2 and VEGF-C.Conclusions Pancreatic cancer lymphangiogenesis mainly existed in paracancerous tissues,COX-2 and VEGF-C may play an important role in the lymphangiogenesis.

Objective To explore the effect of support with total parenteral nutrition(TPN)or early enteral and parenteral nutrition(EN+PN)on immune function of critically ill neurosurgical patients.Methods In this prospective control study,patients were divided inte TPN group and EN+PN group based on the timing of admission.The changes of immunological indicators including CD3,CD4,CD8,CD4/CD8,CD3/CD25,IgA,IgG,IgM,and serum protein before and after nutritional support were compared.Results The percentage of T lymphocyte subsets CD3,CD4,and CD8,the ratio of CD3+/CD25+,the plasma leveh of IgA,IgM,and IgG,and the serum protein were significantly increased after nutrifional supports(P<0.05,P<0.01).However,compared with the TPN group,the percentages of T lymphocyte subsets(CD3,CD4,and CD8),the ratio of CD4+/CD8+,the plasma levels of IgA,IgM,and IgG,and the serum protein were significantly higher in EN+PN group(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusions Both TPN and EN+PN can promote the recovery of immune function,while EN+PN is superior to TPN.Early nutritional support should be provided to critically ill neurosurgical patients.

Objective To investigate the expression of RECK and MMP-9 in pancreatic cancer and to explore the relationship between RECK, MMP-9 expression and the clinicopathological characteristics.Methods PV6000 immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of RECK and MMP-9 in 28 cases of pancreatic cancer and 10 cases of normal pancreatic tissue. All the statistical analyses were performed by using SPSS 13.0 statistical software to determine the relationship between RECK, MMP-9 expression and the clinicopathological characteristics. Results The overall positive rate of RECK espression was 46.43% (13/28)in pancreatic cancer, which was significantly lower than that in normal pancreatic tissue (90%, 9/10). The positive rate of RECK espression in Ⅰ + Ⅱ clinical stage (75.0% ,9/12) was significantly higher than that in Ⅲ + Ⅳ stage (25.0%, 4/16 P < 0.05 ). The positive rate of RECK expression in cases without distant metastases (60.0%, 12/60) was significantly higher than that in cases with distant metastasis (12.5%, 1/8,P<0.05). The overall positive rate of MMP-9 was 75% (21/28) in pancreatic cancer, and 20% (2/10) in normal pancreatic tissue. The comparison between these two groups indicated a significant difference (P <0.01 ). The positive rate of MMP-9 in Ⅰ + Ⅱ clinical stage(50.0% ,6/12) was significantly lower than that in Ⅲ + Ⅳ stage (93.8,15/16, P < 0.05). The positive rate of MMP-9 in well differentiation group(33.3%,1/3 ) was significantly lower than that in poor differentiation group ( 100%, 12/12 ,P < 0. 01 ). The expressionof RECK was negatively correlated with the expression of MMP-9 ( r = - 0. 536, P < 0.01 ). Conclusions RECK is lowly expressed in pancreatic cancer, but MMP-9 is highly expressed. RECK and MMP-9 may serve as important markers in the evaluation of tumor stage.

AIM: To investigate the effects of sodium hydrosulfide ( NaHS ) , a donor of hydrogen sulfide ( H2 S) , on the membrane permeability , intracellular Ca 2+concentration ( [ Ca2+] i ) and the release of IL-1βinduced by a-denosine triphosphate (ATP) in rat microglia, and to explore the effect of H2S on ATP-P2X purinergic signaling pathway and the molecular mechanism of its neuroprotective effect .METHODS: Rat microglia in logarithmic growth phase were used in the study.The [Ca2+]i was detected by Fura-2/AM staining.Fluorescent dye YO-PRO-1 was used to observe the membrane permeability.Interleukin-1β(IL-1β) was measured by rat IL-1βELISA kits.RESULTS:The YO-PRO-1 flu-orescence intensity was obviously elevated by ATP induction in a dose -dependent manner in the rat microglia , but this effect was counteracted by NaHS pretreatment (P<0.05).[Ca2+]i rapidly increased and then decreased slowly , forming a sta-ble platform for a long time when rat microglia were treated with ATP .Ca2+spike activity induced by ATP had no change , but the platform disappeared (P<0.05) after NaHS pretreatment.The ATP and LPS together facilitated the release of IL-1β, but the phenomenon was inhibited by NaHS (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Hydrogen sulfide may decrease the mem-brane permeability , calcium inflow and IL-1βrelease in rat microglia activated by high dose of ATP .The cytoprotection of hydrogen sulfide may be mediated by purinergic signaling pathway .

Objective To investigate the apoptosis-inducing effect and anti-proliferative effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on human pancreatic cancer cell SW1990 in vitro. Methods The effect of proliferation was evaluated by MTT after the SW1990 cells in vitro were incubated with different concentrations of EGCG (6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100 μg/ml). The apoptosis-inducing effect was determined by flow cytometry after the cells were treated with 25 μg/ml of EGCG. The cell cycle of SW1990 cells was detected by flow cytometry after the cells incubated with different concentrations of EGCG (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 μg/ml).Results After SW1990 cell were treated with different concentrations of EGCG (0, 25, 50 μg/ml), the values of A492 were 0.46 ±0.04,0.42 ±0.04,0.27 ±0.03 at 24 h; 0.48 ±0.02, 0.31 ±0.03,0.16 ±0.02at 48 h; 0.51 ±0.01,0.24 ±0.04,0. 14 ±0.04 at 72 h. EGCG inhibited the proliferation of SW1990 in a doseand time-dependant manner(P ＜0.01 ). The apoptotic rates at 24, 48, 72 h were (8.33 ± 1.15 )%, (19.77 ±0.81 )%, (29.17 ± 0.75 )% in the EGCG treatment group; while the corresponding values were (2.77 ±0.45 ) %, (3.20 ± 0.26 ) %, (3.67 ± 0.35 ) % in the control group; and the difference was statistically significant (P ＜0.01 ). After 0, 20, 50 μg/ml of EGCG treatment for 24 h, the percentages of SW1990 cellsin G0/G1 stage were (57.59 ±0.97)%, (62.99 ± 1.91 )%, (68.87 ± 1.88)%, and the percentages of SW1990 cells in G0/G1 stage increased with the increase of concentrations of EGCG, while the percentages of SW1990 cells in G2/M stage decreased with the increase of concentrations of EGCG (P ＜0.01 ). Conclusions EGCG can significantly inhibit the proliferation of SW1990 cells. The mechanism may be related to the apoptosis-inducing effect and the regulation of the cell cycle of the SW1990 cells.