Aged ; Giant Cells ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of moxibustion in re-treatments patients of tuberculosis.

METHODSFifty-three cases were randomly divided into an observation group (n = 31) and a control group (n = 22). They were treated with routine chemotherapeutic program of western medicine with garlic moxibustion on main points Feishu (BL 13), Gaohuang (BL 43), Shenzhu (GV 12), etc. added in the observation group. The therapeutic effects were assessed by clinical symptoms and signs, X-ray, CT examination and laboratory indexes.

RESULTSThe focus absorbing rate of 87.1% in the observation group was better than 63.6% in the control group (P < 0.05); the rate of bacteria-turned negativity in sputum was 90.5% in the observation group which was better than 56.3% in the control group (P < 0.05); the observation group in improvement of hypodynamia, night sweat and cough was superior to the control group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMoxibustion can increase the therapeutic effect for the re-treatment patient of tuberculosis.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Garlic ; chemistry ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Tuberculosis ; drug therapy ; therapy

Albuminuria ; drug therapy ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; drug therapy ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Tetrazoles ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic effect of comprehensive therapeutic protocol of electroacupuncture combined with active-blood-and-dissolve-stasis herbs and rehabilitation training for cerebral infarction.

METHODSA multi-center randomized controlled trial was done, three hundred and twenty cases were divided into four groups: electroacupuncture combined with active-blood and dissolve-stasis herbs and rehabilitation training group (group A), electroacupuncture combined with rehabilitation training group (group B), herbs combined with rehabilitation training group (group C) and rehabilitation training group (group D), 80 cases in each group. The following two groups of acupoints were used alternatively in electroacupuncture treatment: the first group including Vasomotor Area, Jianyu (LI 15), Biguan (ST 31), Hegu (LI 4) and Taichong (LR 3); the second group including Motor Area, Quchi (LI 11), Yanglingquan (GB 34) and Shenshu (BL 23). 20 mL Xiangdan injection and 250 mL 5% glucose injection or 250 mL 0.9% sodium chloride injection were used by intravenous drip in herbs treatment once a day. The rehabilitation training was performed by the professional physical therapist. Each group was treated with corresponding treatment protocol. The therapeutic effect was evaluated by index of the mortality or disability rate 3 months after the onset of disease. The intention to treat analysis (ITT) was used in data.

RESULTSThe mortality or handicap rate 3 months after the onset of disease of four groups were 17.5% (14/80) in group A, 22.5% (18/80) in group B, 40. 0% (32/80) in group C, and 31.3% (25/80) in group D, respectively. The group A has a best therapeutic effect (vs group C, group D, both P<0.05), and there was no adverse event.

CONCLUSIONThe combined application of electroacupuncture, active-blood and dissolve-stasis herbs and rehabilitation training is a better treatment for cerebral infarction in clinic.

Adult ; Aged ; Cerebral Infarction ; drug therapy ; rehabilitation ; therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of glutathione (GSH) and sodium selenite on the metabolism of arsenic in the liver, kidney and blood of mice exposed to iAsIII through drinking water.

METHODSThe mice were randomly divided into control, arsenic, GSH and sodium selenite group, respectively. And each group had eight mice and the mice were exposed to 50 mg/L arsenite by drinking water for 4 weeks. Mice were intraperitoneally injected with GSH (600 mg/kg) and sodium selenite (1 mg/kg) for seven days from the beginning of the fourth week. At the end of the fourth week, liver, kidney and blood were sampled to assess the concentrations of inorganic arsenic (iAs), monomethylarsenic acid (MMA), dimethylarsenic acid (DMA) by hydride generation trapping by ultra-hypothermia coupled with atomic absorption spectrometry.

RESULTSThe liver DMA (233.76 +/- 60.63 ng/g) concentration in GSH group was significantly higher than the arsenic group (218.36 +/- 42.71 ng/g). The concentration of DMA (88.52 +/- 30.86 ng/g) and total arsenic (TAs) (162.32 +/- 49.45 ng/g) in blood of GSH group was significantly higher than those [(45.32 +/- 12.19 ng/g), (108.51 +/- 18.00 ng/g), respectively] of arsenic groups(q values were 3.06, 6.40, 10.72 respectively, P < 0.05). The primary methylated index (PMI) (0.65 +/- 0.050) and secondary methylated index (SMI) (0.55 +/- 0.050) in liver sample of GSH group were significantly higher than those (0.58 +/- 0.056, 0.44 +/- 0. 093) in arsenic group. In blood samples, the PMI (0.85 +/- 0.066) in GSH group was significantly higher than that (0.54 +/- 0.113) in arsenic group (q values were 3.75, 5.26, 4.21 respectively, P < 0.05). However, no significant difference was identified between sodium selenite and arsenic groups in liver, kidney or blood samples. And no significant difference was detected in kidney samples among all arsenic exposing groups.

CONCLUSIONExogenous GSH could promote the methylated metabolism of iAsIII, but sodium selenite showed no significant effects.

Animals ; Arsenic ; analysis ; metabolism ; Arsenic Poisoning ; metabolism ; Environmental Exposure ; Female ; Glutathione ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Sodium Selenite ; pharmacology ; Water Supply

BACKGROUNDCervical keratinocytes are recovered at a low numbers and frequently associated with contaminating human fibroblasts which rapidly overgrow the epithelial cells in culture with medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). However, it is difficult to initiate keratinocyte cultures with serum-free keratinocyte growth medium alone because cell attachment can be poor. Therefore, the culture of these cells is extremely difficult. In this study, we described a modified culture medium and coated culture plastics for growing normal human cervical epithelial cells in vitro.

METHODSNormal cervical epithelial tissue pieces were obtained and digested with type I collagenase to dissociate the cells and a single cell suspension produced. The cells were cultured on plastic tissue culture substrate alone or substrate coated with collagen type I from rat tail, with modified keratinocyte serum-free medium (K-SFM) supplemented with 5% FBS. After attachment, the medium were replaced with K-SFM without FBS. The expression of basal keratins of the ectocervical epithelium, K5, K14 and K19 were assayed by immunofluorescence with monoclonal antibodies to identify the cell purity.

RESULTSOur results indicate that cells attached to the culture plastic more quickly in K-SFM supplemented with 5% FBS than in K-SFM alone, as well as to tissue culture plastic coated with collagen type I than plastic alone. The modified medium composed of K-SFM and 5% FBS combined with a specific tissue culture plastic coated with collagen type I from rat tail was the best method for culture of normal cervical epithelial cells. K5, K14 and K19 were assayed and keratinocyte purity was nearly 100%.

CONCLUSIONA novel, simple and effective method can be used to rapidly obtain highly purified keratinocytes from normal human cervical epithelium.

Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cervix Uteri ; cytology ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Female ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of CD138 and heparinase in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its relationship with tumor development, progression, metastasis and recurrence.

METHODSTissue microarray and immunohistochemical study (EnVision method) for CD138 and heparinase was performed on tissue microarray which consisted of 197 cases of HCC, including adjacent non-neoplastic liver tissues, and 66 cases of HCC metastases.

RESULTSThe rates of CD138 expression in HCC and adjacent non-neoplastic liver tissues were 48.7% (96/197) and 65.0% (128/197, P < 0.05) respectively. In early-stage and late-stage tumors, the expression rates were 61.7% (29/47) and 44.7% (67/150, P < 0.05) respectively. The rate in patients with metastasis was 33.3% (22/66), as compared with 53.6% (45/84, P < 0.05) in patients without metastasis. In patients with tumor recurrence occurring within or after 1 post-operative year, the expression rates were 23.3% (7/30) and 61.1% (11/18, P < 0.05) respectively. On the other hand, the rates of expression of heparinase in HCC and adjacent non-neoplastic liver tissues were 35.5% (70/197) and 12.7% (25/197, P < 0.05) respectively. In early-stage and late-stage tumors, the expression rates were 29.8% (14/47) and 37.3% (56/150, P > 0.05) respectively. The rate in patients with metastasis was 48.5% (32/66), as compared with 28.6% (24/84, P < 0.05) in patients without metastasis. In patients with tumor recurrence occurring within or after 1 post-operative year, the expression rates were 50.0% (15/30) and 44.4% (8/18, P > 0.05) respectively. In the 66 cases of metastatic HCC studied, the expression rate of CD138 was lower in the heparinase-positive subgroup (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLoss of CD138 expression is related to HCC development, progression, metastasis and recurrence. Overexpression of heparinase, when coupled with loss of CD138 expression, may take part in tumor metastasis of HCC.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; secondary ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heparin Lyase ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating ; metabolism ; Peritoneal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; secondary ; Portal Vein ; Syndecan-1 ; metabolism ; Tissue Array Analysis

AIMTo investigate the mechanism of protective effect of SOD (superoxide dismutase) on damage of RBCs stored at 4 degrees C, the studies of erythrocyte glucose and energy metabolism were performed.

METHODSwhole blood collected from healthy donors and stored at 4 degrees C in ACD, GMA and SOD solutions. Before and post storage, some parameters were assayed. Standard methods were used for the in vitro tests. The 24-hour in vivo recoveries were measured by FTTC (Fluorescein 5-isothiocyanate) from SIGMA Company.

RESULTSAll parameters of red blood cell glucolysis rate without oxygen condition, ATP, PK (pyruvic kinase) and 24 h recoveries level were 86.2%, 56.4%, 64.3% and 86.2% of normal respectively stored in SOD solution at 4 degrees C for 75 days, distinctly more than in ACD and GMA groups at 75 days stored. The 24 h recovery at 75d in group SOD was near the recovery at 42d in group GMA.

CONCLUSIONWhole blood in SOD solution can be stored satisfactorily for 75 days at 4 degrees C, and furnished theoretical evidence for RBCs survival.

Animals ; Blood Preservation ; methods ; Erythrocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Rabbits ; Refrigeration ; Superoxide Dismutase ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate effects of anti-dsDNA autoantibodies on growth of tumor in vitro and in vivo.

METHODSBALB/c mice were inoculated with inactivated tumor cells and challenged s.c. with SP 2/0 and Wehi 164 tumor cells four weeks after the last inoculation. The naïve mice were inoculated with SP 2/0 tumor cells immediately after incubating with sera derived from the immunized mice at week 6. Then the tumor size was examined. In vitro, the cytotoxicity of anti-dsDNA autoantibodies to tumor cells was analysed. Furthermore, apoptosis of SP 2/0 and Wehi 164 tumor cells induced by anti-dsDNA autoantibodies was examined by FACS.

RESULTSIn vivo study showed that the growth of SP 2/0 and Wehi 164 tumors were inhibited in mice with anti-dsDNA autoantibodies, but not in mice lack of anti-dsDNA autoantibodies. In vitro, apoptosis of SP 2/0 and Wehi 164 tumor cells was induced when the tumor cells were incubated with the sera containing anti-dsDNA autoantibodies. Statistical analysis showed that the ability of anti-dsDNA autoantibodies to induce apoptosis of SP 2/0 and Wehi 164 tumor cells was significantly correlated with affinity (r = 0.990, P < 0.01 and r = 0.901, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAnti-dsDNA autoantibodies have inhibitory effect on tumor cells via inducing apoptosis.

Animals ; Antibodies, Neoplasm ; biosynthesis ; immunology ; Apoptosis ; Autoantibodies ; biosynthesis ; immunology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA ; immunology ; Fibrosarcoma ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Immune Sera ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred DBA ; Multiple Myeloma ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Neoplasm Transplantation

The STandards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials Of Moxibustion (STRICTOM), in the form of a checklist and descriptions of checklist items, were designed to improve reporting of moxibustion trials, and thereby facilitating their interpretation and replication. The STRICTOM checklist included 7 items and 16 sub-items. These set out reporting guidelines for the moxibustion rationale, details of moxibustion, treatment regimen, other components of treatment, treatment provider background, control and comparator interventions, and precaution measures. In addition, there were descriptions of each item and examples of good reporting. It is intended that the STRICTOM can be used in conjunction with the main CONSORT Statement, extensions for nonpharmacologic treatment and pragmatic trials, and thereby raise the quality of reporting of clinical trials of moxibustion. Further comments will be solicited from the experts of the CONSORT Group, the STRICTA Group, acupuncture and moxibustion societies, and clinical trial authors for optimizing the STRICTOM.
Clinical Trials as Topic ; methods ; standards ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; methods ; standards ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Research Design ; standards