Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of spleen-invigorating and qi-benefiting pediatric massage (tuina) for treating recurrent respiratory tract infection in children with cerebral palsy due to qi deficiency of spleen and lung. Methods: A total of 70 children with cerebral palsy who suffered from recurrent respiratory tract infection due to qi deficiency of spleen and lung were randomized into an observation group and a control group by the random number table method, with 35 cases in each group. Both groups were treated with conventional rehabilitation training, while the observation group was given additional spleen-invigorating and qi-benefiting pediatric massage, and the control group additionally took oral Yu Ping Feng granule. The clinical efficacy was evaluated by the total effective rate, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom score, and serum levels of immunoglobulin (Ig) A, IgM and IgG. Results: The difference in total effective rate between the two groups after treatment was statistically significant (P<0.05). After treatment, the TCM symptom scores in both groups decreased to varying degrees than those before treatment, and the intra-group differences were statistically significant (all P<0.01); the differences in the scores of various TCM symptoms between the two groups were statistically significant (all P<0.05). After treatment, the levels of IgA, IgM and IgG of the children in both groups increased to varying degrees, and the intra-group differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The between-group differences in the IgA, IgM and IgG levels after treatment were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Spleen-invigorating and qi-benefiting pediatric massage can effectively treat recurrent respiratory tract infection due to qi deficiency of spleen and lung in children with cerebral palsy, relieve the clinical symptoms and improve immune function, and thus is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

Objective:To observe the effect of Governor Vessel-unblocking and mind-refreshing acupuncture plus functional training on neural development in infants with brain damage and seek an effective method for early intervention of infantile brain damage.Methods:Eighty infants with brain injury were recruited and allocated to a treatment group and a control group by their visiting sequence,with 40 cases in each group.The control group received exercise training,40 min each session and 6 sessions a week,and tuina treatment,30 min each time and 6 times a week.Based on the treatment protocol for the control group,the treatment group additionally received Governor Vessel-unblocking and mind-refreshing acupuncture,3 times a week and 10 sessions as a course at a 2-week interval.Before the treatment and after 14-week treatment,the gross motor function measure (GMFM) and developmental quotient (DQ) of Bejing Gesell developmental scale were used to evaluate the development of the infants.Results:After the treatment,the GMFM score and DQs of Gesell scale all increased by different levels in the two groups,and the intra-group differences were statistically significant (all P＜0.05);the scores of the treatment group were superior to those of the control group,and the between-group differences were statistically significant (all P＜0.05).Conclusion:Governor Vessel-unblocking and mind-refreshing acupuncture plus functional training can significantly promote the development of gross motor and cognitive functions in infants with brain damage,and it is an early and effective intervention for infantile brain damage.

OBJECTIVETo observe the peripheral neurotoxicity of 1-bromopropane (1-BP) by developing an animal model of peripheral neuropathy through oral administration of 1-BP.

METHODSForty male Wistar rats were randomly and equally divided into low-dose group (200 mg/kg), medium-dose group (400 mg/kg), high-dose group (800 mg/kg), and control group. The rats in the low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose groups were orally given 1-BP (dissolved in corn oil), while the rats in the control group were orally given an equal volume of corn oil. The oral administration (0.2 ml/100 g BW) was performed once per day, 5 days per week, for 16 consecutive weeks. Neurobehavioral indices including gait score, hindlimb grip strength, and hindlimb landing foot splay were recorded periodically. Hematological and biochemical parameters were also measured during and after 1-BP exposure.

RESULTSThe gait scores were significantly higher in the high-dose group (after 8 ∼ 16 weeks of 1-BP exposure), medium-dose group (after 14 ∼ 16 weeks of 1-BP exposure), and low-dose group (after 15 ∼ 16 weeks of 1-BP exposure) than in the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the high-dose group showed significantly decreased hindlimb grip strength after 9, 12, and 14 weeks of 1-BP exposure (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), with the hindlimbs paralyzed after 16 weeks of 1-BP exposure. After 16 weeks of 1-BP exposure, the hindlimb grip strengths of rats in the medium-dose and low-dose groups were decreased to 72.6% and 91.2% of the control value (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the high-dose group showed significantly increased hindlimb landing foot splay after 12, 14, and 16 weeks of 1-BP exposure, and the medium-dose group showed significantly increased hindlimb landing foot splay after 14 and 16 weeks of 1-BP exposure (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The high-dose and medium-dose groups showed significantly higher serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity than the control group after 8 weeks of 1-BP exposure, and so did the low-dose group after 16 weeks of 1-BP exposure (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe nervous system is sensitive to the toxic effect of 1-BP, and 1-BP exposure can induce peripheral neuropathy in rats.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hydrocarbons, Brominated ; administration & dosage ; toxicity ; Male ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo observe and compare the protective effect of garlic oil against carbon tetrachloride (CCL)-induced acute liver injury.

METHODSThe experiments include 4 preventive groups and 2 therapeutic groups. In every preventive and therapeutic group, the mice were randomized into 6 groups with 15 each, including one negative control group, one solvent control group, one CCl4 model group and 3 garlic oil groups (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg body weight). Before given a single gavage of CCl4 (80 mg/kg), the mice were pretreated with garlic oil by gavage in preventive group 1 (30 days, once daily), preventive group 2 (5 days, once daily), preventive group 3 (ahead of 2 h, once), preventive group 4 (immediately, once) or the vehicle (corn oil, 10 ml/kg) in solvent control group. In therapeutic groups, the mice were gavaged garlic oil 2 h (once, in therapeutic 1) or for 5 days (once daily, in therapeutic 2) after administration CCl. After 24 h of the last administration, blood was collected and centrifuged at 2500 r/min at 4 degrees C for 10 min, and serum was removed to measure ALT and AST activities. The liver was dissected, weighed to calculate the liver coefficient (relative liver weight). At the same time, the liver samples were studied by histological examinations.

RESULTSCompared with negative group, the liver coefficient and the activities of ALT and AST in serum of model group were increased remarkably (P < 0.01). Compared with CCl model group, the liver coefficient and the activities of ALT and AST in serum were decreased significantly (P < 0.01) by garlic oil dose-dependently in each preventive group. Simultaneously, histological assessment showed that garlic oil effectively alleviated hepatocyte injuries induced by CCl4. Comparing the preventive effects of garlic oil in every group, it was better in preventive group 3 than others. However, all indexes and histological examinations in therapeutic group 1 did not show the difference with those of CCl4 model group. In therapeutic group 2, all indexes recovered after 5 d of CCl4 administration.

CONCLUSIONSGarlic oil can prevent acute liver injury induced by CCl4 and the effect is better in ahead of 2 h group than others.

Alanine Transaminase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; metabolism ; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Garlic ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Plant Oils ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate the dynamic alterations of neurofilament subunits (NF) in sciatic nerve of hens with organophosphorus ester induced the delayed neurotoxicity or neuropathy (OPIDN).

METHODSHens with OPIDN were produced by giving 30 mg/kg methamidophos subcutaneously to the 10-month-old Roman hens daily for 15 days, and sacrificed after manifesting neurotoxic clinical signs on the 2nd, 10th, and 23rd day respectively. The sciatic nerves were dissected, homogenized and centrifuged. The levels of NF in supernatant and pellet of sciatic nerves were examined by Western blotting respectively at different time from 2 to 23 days.

RESULTSIntegrated optional density (IOD) of high molecular weight neurofilament (NF-H) in sciatic nerve pellet of hens on the day 2, 10, 23 after appearance of OPIDN were 145,117 +/- 17,038, 55,917 +/- 17,333 and 45,038 +/- 6,662 respectively. As compared with the control group (78,875 +/- 22,569), the contents of NF-H in pellet were increased by 84% on day 2, and decreased by 29% and 43% on day 10 and 23 respectively. IOD of NF-H in supernatant of sciatic nerves were 4,709 +/- 1,739, 12,337 +/- 3,205 and 16,745 +/- 931, which were reduced significantly as compared with the control (44,083 +/- 6,895) at three different times. There was no significant difference in IOD of middle molecular weight neurofilament (NF-M) between control group (27,925 +/- 2,660) and on day 2 (31,493 +/- 4,625) in pellet. Those were 19,367 +/- 2,746 and 6,612 +/- 1,119 respectively on day 10 and day 23 in pellet of hen's sciatic nerve, which were much less than that in control. Little were detected in supernatant on day 10, and the IOD of NF-M were 3,196 +/- 269 and 5,206 +/- 1,292 on day 2 and day 23 respectively, which were lessened by 81% and 70% as compared with the control (17,243 +/- 3,232). In sciatic nerve pellet of hens, IOD of low molecular weight neurofilament (NF-L) on day 2 was 39,211 +/- 3,800, which was much higher than that in the control (28,749 +/- 9,319). There were no significant differences between IOD on day 10 (27,974 +/- 3,611), day 23 (21,507 +/- 2,286) and the control. There was no detection both on day 2 and 10 in supernatant of sciatic nerve, and IOD of NF-L were 5,962 +/- 1,929 on day 23, which were reduced significantly compared with the control (11,897 +/- 352).

CONCLUSIONThe alterations of NF in sciatic nerve might contribute to the occurrence and development of OPIDN.

Animals ; Chickens ; Female ; Insecticides ; toxicity ; Neurofilament Proteins ; metabolism ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; toxicity ; Sciatic Nerve ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Toxicity Tests

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether the alterations of microtubule and microfilament expression are responsible for the neurotoxicity of carbon disulfide.

METHODSWistar rats were administered with carbon disulfide by gavage at a dosage of 300 or 500 mg/kg for continuous 12 weeks (five times per week). Spinal cords of carbon disulfide-intoxicated rats and their age-matched controls were Triton-extracted and ultracentrifuged to yield a pellet and a corresponding supernatant fraction. Then, the contents of alpha-tubulin, beta-tubulin, and beta-actin in both fractions were determined by immunoblotting. In the meantime, their mRNA levels in spinal cords were quantified using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSIn the supernatant fraction, the contents of beta-tubulin and beta-actin in both treated groups increased significantly (P < 0.01) the content of beta-tubulin increased by 141% and 158% respectively, and the content of beta-actin increased by 19% and 32% respectively. In the pellet fraction, the content of beta-tubulin in both groups increased by 107%(P < 0.01) and 118%(P < 0.01) respectively, and the others keep unaffected. In the meantime, the levels of of mRNA expression of beta-tubulin and beta-actin gene were elevated consistently in CS(2)-treated groups (P < 0.01) the levels of mRNA expression of beta-tubulin increased by 207% and 212% respectively, and the levels of mRNA expression of beta-actin increased by 94% and 91% respectively.

CONCLUSIONCarbon disulfide intoxication results in alternations of microtubule and microfilament expression, and the alternations might be related to its neurotoxicity.

Actins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Carbon Disulfide ; poisoning ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spinal Cord ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Tubulin ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of 1-bromopropane (1-BP) on the functions of learning-memory and the central cholinergic system in rats.

METHODSForty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: low 1-BP group (200 mg/kg), middle 1-BP group (400 mg/kg), high 1-BP group (800 mg/kg) and control group, and the exposure time was 7 days. The Morris water maze (MWM) test was applied to evaluate the learning-memory function in rats. After the MWM test, the rats were sacrificed, the cerebral cortex and hippocampus were quickly dissected and homogenized in ice bath. The activity of acetylcholine esterase (AChE) and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in supernatant of homogenate were detected.

RESULTSThe latency and swim path-length of rats in middle and high 1-BP groups prolonged significantly in place navigation test and the efficiency of searching strategy obviously decreased, as compared with control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). In spatial probe test, the number of crossing platform in three 1-BP groups decreased significantly, as compared with control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The cortical AChE activity of rats in middle and high 1-BP groups was significantly higher than that of control and low 1-BP group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The AChE activity in rat hippocampus of high 1-BP group obviously increased, as compared with control group as compared with control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference of cortical ChAT activity between three 1-BP groups and control group (P > 0.05). In the hippocampus, there was no difference of ChAT activity among the groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION1-BP exposure could significantly influence the learning-memory function in rats due to the increase of AChE activity.

Acetylcholinesterase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Choline O-Acetyltransferase ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Hydrocarbons, Brominated ; toxicity ; Male ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo develop a sensitive and specific RT-PCR assay using the mRNA of MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 genes as specific tumor markers for the detection of the tumor cells in the peripheral blood of patients with gastric cancer.

METHODSPeripheral blood was obtained from 40 patients with gastric cancer and from 20 healthy volunteers. The mRNA of MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 genes in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was detected by RT-PCR. The expressions of MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 mRNA in the tumor tissues of these gastric cancer patients were also detected by RT-PCR. Meanwhile,CEA expression by nested RT-PCR in PBMC of 40 gastric cancer patients was also detected.

RESULTSOf 40 gastric cancer patients, MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 mRNA were positive in 47.5% (19/40) and 25% (10/40) of PBMC respectively, and in 62.5% (25/40) and 30% (12/40) of gastric cancer tissues respectively. As a whole, in the PBMC of 40 gastric cancer patients, 25 (62.5%) samples were found to express at least one type of MAGE mRNA. In the patients whose tumors did not express MAGE-1 and/or MAGE-3 genes, the corresponding MAGE mRNA was also undetected in their PBMC. There was no expression of MAGE-1 or MAGE-3 gene in the PBMC from the 20 healthy donors. The positive rate of MAGE mRNA in PBMC was closely correlated with the tumor stage and lymph node metastasis (P <0.05). Positive rate of CEA gene expression was 32.5% (13/40) in the PBMC of 40 gastric cancer patients, 29 (72.5%)samples were detected to express at least one type of MAGE gene and CEA gene mRNA.

CONCLUSIONSMAGE-1, MAGE-3 and CEA mRNA are specifically detected with high percentage in the PBMC of gastric cancer patients by RT-PCR. They could be used as specific tumor markers for the detection of the circulating gastric cancer cells, and the detection results may be helpful to evaluate the prognosis of gastric cancer patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; blood ; genetics ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; blood ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stomach Neoplasms ; blood ; genetics ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the protective impact of tea polyphenols (TP) on the injury of fibrinolytic functions induced by high-methionine dietary in rats.

METHODS50 male Wistar rats were divided by stratified based on body weight into 5 groups with 10 in each group: namely control group, model group, low-dose TP group, medium-dose TP group and high-dose TP group. The rats in model group and TP groups were fed with 3% methionine dietary, control group rats with routine diet. In addition, rats in low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose TP groups were treated with TP at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg dosage respectively by gavages every day, control group and model group rats were given with same amount distilled water. The animals were sacrificed after 8 weeks. The levels of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and type-1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) in plasma were determined by ELISA assays, mRNA levels of t-PA and PAI-1 in aortic arch were detected by RT-PCR, t-PA and PAI-1 expression in aortic arch were detected by immunohistochemistry strept-avidin-biotin complex (SABC).

RESULTSAfter experiment, the t-PA expression of aortic arch in control group, model group, low-dose TP group, medium-dose TP group and high-dose TP group were 133.03 ± 10.14, 95.46 ± 11.08, 111.97 ± 11.91, 130.23 ± 10.80, 139.39 ± 9.41 (F = 14.15, P < 0.01), respectively, and the PAI-1 expression were 90.91 ± 8.67, 166.76 ± 12.18, 139.63 ± 12.71, 134.66 ± 13.19, 109.49 ± 10.82 (F = 31.44, P < 0.01). The t-PA concentration of plasma were (10.69 ± 1.26), (6.13 ± 0.92), (8.56 ± 1.19), (9.69 ± 0.92), (11.97 ± 1.08) ng/ml, respectively (F = 41.98, P < 0.01), and the PAI-1 concentration of plasma were (6.31 ± 0.81), (16.98 ± 1.27), (11.39 ± 0.82), (8.46 ± 0.67), (8.08 ± 0.91) ng/ml, respectively (F = 207.74, P < 0.01). The mRNA levels of t-PA in aortic arch were 1.12 ± 0.02, 0.75 ± 0.14, 1.01 ± 0.09, 0.95 ± 0.08, 1.05 ± 0.13 (F = 5.77, P < 0.05), and the mRNA levels of PAI-1 in aortic arch were 1.25 ± 0.11, 1.74 ± 0.06, 1.23 ± 0.05, 1.09 ± 0.14, 1.23 ± 0.04 (F = 23.56, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe results indicate that TP seems to have regulatory function on transcription and protein levels of t-PA and PAI-1, in addition to maintaining the balance between PAI-1 and t-PA and healing the injury of fibrinolytic functions in rats induced by high-methionine dietary.

Animals ; Diet ; Fibrinolysis ; drug effects ; Male ; Methionine ; adverse effects ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; blood ; Polyphenols ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tea ; chemistry ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator ; blood

Acrylamide ; toxicity ; Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Cytoskeletal Proteins ; blood ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Gait Ataxia ; blood ; chemically induced ; Male ; Motor Activity ; drug effects ; Neurotoxicity Syndromes ; blood ; etiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar