OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy on vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI) between auricular acupuncture therapy and oral administration of medicine.

METHODSSixty patients of VBI were randomized into an auricular acupuncture therapy group and a medicine group, 30 cases in each one. In the auricular acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied bilaterally to gan (CO12) and jiejie (HX8) on the ears and needles were retained for 15 min. After needle withdrawal, the vaccariae semen were fixed with plaster at naogan (AT3, 4i), zhen (AT3), jing (AH12), shen (CO10) and pi (CO13) on the ears. In the medicine group, flunarizine hydrochloride capsules (Sibelium), 5mg were prescribed for oral administration, once every night. The treatment lasted continuously for 2 weeks (14 days) in the two groups. In 2 weeks, the clinical efficacy was assessed and the transcranial doppler (TCD) examination was performed.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the symptom scores were all apparently reduced in the patients of the two groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Compared with the medicine group, the reduced score was much more obvious in the auricular acupuncture group (P < 0.05), indicating the significant difference. After treatment, with TCD examination, the blood velocity was increased to different degrees in the patients of low velocity type in the auricular acupuncture group and the medicine group; that was reduced to different degrees in the patients of high velocity type in the auricular acupuncture group and the medicine group. All of them were different significantly as compared with those before treatment (all P < 0.05). But the difference was not significant between the two groups (both P > 0.05). In comparison of clinical efficacy between the two groups, the effective rate was 93.3% (28/30) in the acupuncture group and better than 76.7% (23/30) in the medicine group, indicating the significant difference in comparison (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe auricular acupuncture therapy achieves the definite efficacy on VBI and the efficacy is better than flunarizine hydrochloride capsules.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture, Ear ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo study the pollution status of Legionella species in hot spring vacation center and the related factors.

METHODSField surveys were performed in four big hot spring vacation centers of Changping district. Uniform questionnaires was used and colony count was made together with the isolation of Legionella species from hot spring water based on mip gene typing.

RESULTS47 isolates of Legionella pneumophila (Lp) from 87 samples showed 4 serotypes as Lp1, Lp6, Lp12, Lp5 with percent of 57.45%, 21.28%, 14.89%, 6.38% respectively. The hot spring centers controlled the temperature of recycled water between 34-47 degrees C by hot water heating and filtrating system. All the isolates were cultured from the hot water with temperature between 34-44 degrees C: 56.75% (21/37) in high temperature (40-47 degrees C) and 61.90% (26/42) in low temperature (34-39.9 degrees C). There were no statistically significant difference between the high and the low temperature samples (P > 0.05). In the four hot spring vacation centers, the pH value was under control at 6.4-7.3 and the ambient temperature was under control between 26-28 degrees C. The humidity was controlled between 56% -69% relative humidity, which were the best growing conditions for the Legionella species. Disinfectors as chlorine deviratives was used in the four hot spring vacation centers. Though the concentration of chlorine in the water was 0.3-0.5 mg/L, 14.29%-48.00% of the samples were still positive of having Legionella species.

CONCLUSIONThe pollution of Legionella species was considered to be quite serious in the four hot spring vacation centers and the predominant serotype was Lp1. The pH and temperature of the hot spring water, ambient temperature and humidity and the way of heating up the water were the best conditions for the growth of Legionella species in these centers. Because of the high temperature of the hot spring water, chlorine of the disinfector volatilized quickly, affecting the effect of disinfection. The result revealed that water temperature achieving 44 degrees C could have had the effect of prevention.

China ; Disinfection ; Environmental Monitoring ; Hot Springs ; microbiology ; Legionella ; growth & development ; isolation & purification ; Temperature ; Travel ; Water Microbiology

Actins ; metabolism ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; metabolism ; Desmin ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Complex and Mixed ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate apoptosis of tumor infiltrating dendritic cells (TIDC) and their expression of Fas/FasL (CD95/CD95L) in human endometrioid adenocarcinoma.

METHODSThe apoptotic rate of TIDC was measured in 45 cases of endometrioid adenocarcinoma and 20 cases of normal endometrium tissues (control) by double-label immunohistochemistry using the monoclonal antibody S-100 protein and TUNEL technique. The expressions of Fas and FasL in TIDCs were detected using double-label immunohistochemistry and imaging analysis.

RESULTSThe apoptotic rate of TIDCs in endometrioid adenocarcinoma were significantly higher than that in normal endormetrium [(13.02∓0.64)% vs (6.82∓0.53)%, P<0.05]. The expression levels of Fas in the TIDCs were significantly lower, whereas FasL expression significantly higher in endometrioid adenocarcinoma than in normal endormetrium (7.88∓1.05 vs 19.25∓3.03, P<0.05; 12.95∓2.25 vs 7.51∓1.14, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONIncreased apoptosis of the TIDCs and abnormal expression of Fas/FasL in TIDCs in endometrioid adenocarcinoma may lead to tumor immune escape.

Apoptosis ; physiology ; Carcinoma, Endometrioid ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Fas Ligand Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating ; immunology ; Tumor Escape ; fas Receptor ; genetics ; metabolism

Weight loss is frequently observed after acute exposure to high altitude. However, the magnitude and rate of weight loss during acute exposure to high altitude has not been clarified in a controlled prospective study. The present study was performed to evaluate weight loss at high altitude. A group of 120 male subjects [aged (32±6) years] who worked on the construction of the Golmud-Lhasa Railway at Kunlun Mountain (altitude of 4 678 m) served as volunteer subjects for this study. Eighty-five workers normally resided at sea level (sea level group) and 35 normally resided at an altitude of 2 200 m (moderate altitude group). Body weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference were measured in all subjects after a 7-day stay at Golmud (altitude of 2 800 m, baseline measurements). Measurements were repeated after 33-day working on Kunlun Mountain. In order to examine the daily rate of weight loss at high altitude, body weight was measured in 20 subjects from the sea level group (sea level subset group) each morning before breakfast for 33 d at Kunlun Mountain. According to guidelines established by the Lake Louise acute mountain sickness (AMS) consensus report, each subject completed an AMS self-report questionnaire two days after arriving at Kunlun Mountain. After 33-day stay at an altitude of 4 678 m, the average weight loss for the sea level group was 10.4% (range 6.5% to 29%), while the average for the moderate altitude group was 2.2% (-2% to 9.1%). The degree of weight loss (Δ weight loss) after a 33-day stay at an altitude of 4 678 m was significantly correlated with baseline body weight in the sea level group (r=0.677, P<0.01), while the correlation was absent in the moderate altitude group (r=0.296, P>0.05). In the sea level subset group, a significant weight loss was observed within 20 d, but the weight remained stable thereafter. AMS-score at high altitude was significantly higher in the sea level group (4.69±2.48) than that in the moderate altitude group (2.97±1.38), and was significantly correlated with baseline body weight. These results indicate that (1) the person with higher body weight during stay at high altitude loses more weight, and this is more pronounced in sea level natives when compared with that in moderate altitude natives; (2) heavier individuals are more likely to develop AMS than leaner individuals during exposure to high-altitude hypoxia.
Adult ; Altitude ; Altitude Sickness ; physiopathology ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; China ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Male ; Weight Loss ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of dexamethasone on airway morphology and on the expression of angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and its tyrosine kinase receptor Tie-2 in the airway of asthmatic rats.

METHODSForty-five Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control, asthmatic, and dexamethasone-treated asthmatic groups. Asthma was induced by repeated sensitization and challenge with ovalbumin in the latter two groups. The dexamethasone intervention group received an intraperitonea injection of dexamethasone (2 mg/kg) before asthma challenge. Immunohistochemistry was used to measure the expression of Ang-1 and Tie-2 in the airway. Airway thickness was estimated by a computerized digital image analyzer.

RESULTSAirway thickness in the asthmatic group (33.9333+/-8.3791 micro m2/micro m) increased significantly compared with that in the control group (21.1333+/-2.7740 micro m2/micro m) (P<0.01). The dexamethasone intervention group also showed increased thickness of the airway (27.4000 +/- 4.6105 micro m2/micro m) compared with the control group (P<0.01), but the airway thickness in the dexamethasone intervention group was significantly reduced compared with that in the untreated asthmatic group (P<0.01). The expression of Ang-1 (103.9487+/-8.2914 vs 76.0320+/-3.7728; P<0.01) and Tie-2 (99.2307+/-8.1913 vs 75.3153+/-3.7321; P<0.01) in the airway increased significantly in the asthmatic group compared to controls. The expression of Ang-1 and Tie-2 in the airway of the dexamethasone intervention group (90.6180+/-5.2339 and 86.6633+/-3.7321, respectively) was statistically higher than that in the control group (P<0.01) but statistically lower than that in the untreated asthmatic group (P<0.01). Ang-1 and Tie-2 expression in the airway was positively correlated with the thickness of airway (r(Ang)-1=0.719r(Tie)-2=0.746P<0.01). There was also a positive correlation between Ang-1 and Tie-2 expression (r=0.742P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of Ang-1 and Tie-2 in the airway increased in asthmatic rats and was positively correlated with the thickness of the airway. Ang-1 and Tie-2 may participate in the process of airway remodeling in asthma. Dexamethasone can decrease the expression of Ang-1 and Tie-2 in the airway and relieve the changes of airway morphology.

Angiopoietin-1 ; analysis ; physiology ; Animals ; Asthma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Lung ; chemistry ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, TIE-2 ; analysis ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of ultrasound guided inter-scalene brachial plexus block and patient-controlled infraclavicular brachial plexus block for postoperative pain and surgical efficacy in patients with terrible tyriad of the elbow.

METHODSFrom March 2015 to August 2016, 60 patients with terrible tyriad of the elbows were treated in Ningbo No.6 Hospital with ASA I to II internal fixation. There were 32 males and 28 females, ranging in age from 16 to 70 years old, with a mean age of (55.6±18.2) years old. All the patients were divided into two groups(30 cases in each group): controlled intermuscular groove brachial plexus block (group C), infraclavicular brachial plexus block(group I). All catheters were placed using ultra-sound visualization and injected 0.33% ropivacaine 30 ml preoperatively. After regaining consciousness, all patients connected the electronic pump. The solution contained 0.2% ropiva-caine and the pump was setup to deliver a 5 ml bolus dose, with a 15 min lock out interval and background infusion at 5 ml/h. Both analgesia lasted until 5 d after operation. The patients underwent rehabilitation exercise everyday for 5 consecutive days starting from 24 h after operation.VAS score was recorded at 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and 4 d, 5 d after operation during rest and rehabilitation exercise time. The elbow articular range of motion and Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS) were recorded at 6 d after operation. Catheter-related adversereactions (such as oozing from the insertion site, obstruction, prolapse) were recorded.

RESULTSThe success rate of blockade was 100% during insertion in both groups. Compared with group C, the VAS score at 3 d during rest time and 3, 4, 5 d after operation during rehabili-tation exercise were decreased(2.5±0.5 vs. 3.8±1.1, 3.0±0.4 vs. 5.0±0.9, 2.5±0.4 vs. 4.5±1.2, 2.1±0.3 vs. 4.1±1.0,<0.05). The elbow articular range of motion and MEPS were increased(-2.19±18.01)° vs.(-8.19±12.16)°, (45.15±11.20)° vs. (22.15±7.02)°, (19.06±6.75)° vs. (9.10±2.48)°, (17.08±5.18)° vs. (10.12±3.15)°, (80.80±9.50) points vs. (64.90±11.21) points. The incidence of insertion site, obstruction, prolapse was 15, 5 and 10 cases respectively in group C, but without any catheter-related adverse reactions happened in group I (<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPatient-controlled infraclavieular brachial plexus block can be effectively used for postoperative pain after fixation for terrible tyriad of the elbows, and it can increase surgical outcome.

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanism of STAT3 antisense oligonucleotide (STAT3 AS-ON) in combination with DDP in the treatment of laryngeal cancer.

METHODSSTAT3 AS-ON, DDP, or STAT3 AS-ON + DDP was added into culture media. The expression and phosphorylation levels of STAT3 protein in Hep-2 cells were measured by Western Blot. The expression of Cyclin D1 and Bcl-xL was also detected by Western Blot. The cell proliferation was assayed by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT). Flow cytometry was performed to analyze the cell cycle and apoptosis.

RESULTSSTAT3 was highly expressed and phosphorylated in Hep-2 cells. Transfection of STAT3 AS-ON suppressed the expression and phosphorylation levels of STAT3 protein. Forty-eight hours after transfection, the proliferation of Hep-2 cells was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibitory effects appeared at 24 h after transfection of STAT3 AS-ON, and became more obvious after 36 h. Seventy-two hours after transfection, the rate of apoptosis in STAT3 AS-ON + DDP group, DDP group, STAT3 AS-ON group, STAT3 S-ON group, lipidosome group and control group was 32.9%, 13.5%, 28.1%, 3.2%, 2.4%, 1.8% respectively. After the treatment of Hep-2 cells with STAT3 AS-ON and DDP for 72 h, the ratio of G1 phase was up-regulated from 55.7% to 74.9%, while that of S phase was own-regulate from 33.6% to 6.9%.

CONCLUSIONSSTAT3 AS-ON and DDP could suppress the growth of laryngeal cancer cells and induce significant apoptosis of laryngeal cancer cells. Combined use of them had a synergic effect, obviously inhibiting the activation of STAT3 signaling transduction pathway of laryngeal cancer cells. Selective inhibition of specific signaling pathway may provide a new therapeutic approach for treating laryngeal cancers.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; genetics ; pharmacology ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of vascular bundle implantation in autogenous bone graft on angiogenesis.

METHODSThirty-six New Zealand white rabbits were evaluated in this study. A portion of bilateral radial bones of a rabbit were removed as free bone grafts, whose periostea were peeled off. In test group, the external maxillary artery bundle was passed through the marrow cavity of the bone. In control group, there was no vascular bundle implantation. Each bone was placed in masseter muscle separately. The rabbits were sacrificed and the specimens were procured at 3 days, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 weeks after surgery for histological observation, Chinese ink perfusion and CD34 immunohistochemistry. Microvessel density (MVD) was assessed in order to evaluate angiogenesis of autogenous bone grafts.

RESULTSThe bone grafts were found revascularization in 3 days after surgery in the test group, whereas at 2 weeks in the control group. In 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks and 4 weeks after surgery, the MVD of test group was significantly higher than that of control group. In 4 weeks after surgery, angiogenesis of test group reached to peak.

CONCLUSIONVascular bundle implantation improved angiogenesis in non-vascularized autogenous bone graft in this study.

Animals ; Bone Transplantation ; Bone and Bones ; Prostheses and Implants ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of hTERT antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ASODN) on the oncogenicity and the inductive apoptosis of HL-60 cells.

METHODSApoptosis of HL-60 cells was detected by flow cytometry (FCM) and agarose gel electrophoresis. Both treated and untreated HL-60 cells were collected and transplanted into 5 BALB/c nude mice respectively, the formation of transplanted neoplasm and its morphologic change were observed. After the transplanted neoplasms were uniform with the ameliorated method in another 10 BALB/c nude mice, they were divided into 2 groups and injected ASODN and PBS into the neoplasm respectively. Seven days later, the tumor were measured, its morphology were observed, and the apoptotic cells were detected with a TUNEL kit.

RESULTSAfter 72 h treatment there were DNA ladders and early apoptosis peak in hTERT ASODN treated HL-60 cells but was none in SODN treated and blank control cells. In tumor formation experiment, neoplasms were formed in ASODN treated group at 16-17 d and untreated group at 12-13 d. Neoplasm was formed in 2 of 5 ASODN treated mice and 4 of 5 untreated mice respectively. In untreated mice tumor tissues were rich in blood vasa and stromal tissue compared with that in ASODN treated mice. In tumor therapy experiment, before treatment, there was no difference in the average neoplasm physical volume between ASODN treated group [(100.9 +/- 24.6) mm3] and PBS treated group [(98.4 +/- 23.1) mm3] (P > 0.05). After treatment, the neoplasm volume in ASODN treated group [(422.7 +/- 326.4) mm3] was smaller than that in PBS treated group [(786.4 +/- 357.6) mm3] (P < 0.05). Histologically, there were many apoptosis cells in ASODN treated group, but was seldom seen in PBS treated group. The TUNEL positive cells in ASODN treated group were much more than that in PBS treated group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe hTERT ASODN induces apoptosis of HL-60 cells in vitro, reduces the tumor formation in BALB/c nude mice and inhibits the growth of the transplanted neoplasm.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense ; pharmacology ; Telomerase ; genetics ; Transfection ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays