Objective Androgen receptor ( AR) is extensively expressed in breast cancer and influences the proliferation of the malignant cells.Our study aimed to investigate the effect of AR on estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer. Methods ER-positive MCF-7 breast cells were exposed to various concentrations of agonist dihydrotestosterone ( DHT) or antagonist bicalutamide or left untreated .Then the proliferation and apoptosis of the cells were determined by MTT assay , cell counting , and flow cytometry , and the expressions of the proteins related to cell cycle regulation were detected by Western blot . Results The relative gray value of AR was significantly increased in the DHT group (1.055 ±0.020) but decreased in the bicalutamide group (0.705 ±0.010) as com-pared with the blank control (0.795 ±0.020) (both P<0.05).Flow cytometry showed that the early apoptosis rate of the breast cancer cells was markedly higher in the DHT group ([51.20 ±0.312]%) but lower in the bicalutamide group ([2.410 ±0.367]%) than in the blank control ([3.540 ±0.375]%) (both P<0 .01). In comparison with the control group , the expressions of the p53, p73 and p21 proteins in the MCF-7 cells were remarkably up-regulated in the DHT group but down-regulated in the bicalutamide group ( both P<0.05). Conclusion AR inhibits the proliferation of ER-posi-tive breast cancer cells , which suggests that it may be a potential ther-apeutic target for ER-positive breast cancer .

Objective To generate data on the current medical rehabilitation resources in Hubei province so as to improve the management of rehabilitation quality.Methods Medical institutions on the second level and above were investigated using a questionnaire which covered installations,personnel,equipment and field of operations.Results A total of 176 questionnaires were recovered.Among them,166 (94.3％) of the hospitals had established a department of rehabilitation medicine,and 122 (69.3％) had set up an independent rehabilitation ward,accounting for a total of 3,359 beds.Altogether,there were 1,260 rehabilitation physicians (36.7％ of the assigned personnel),904 therapists (26.3％) and 1,272 nurses (37％).Senior physicians,therapists and nurses were 26％,3.1％ and 28.3％ of the respective totals.Conclusion Rehabilitation medicine in Hubei Province remains relatively poorly developed.It is weak in terms of building the discipline,management and devices,especially in a serious lack of professionals and rehabilitation therapists.

Adolescent ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Interactions ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Methotrexate ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; Sex Factors ; Tetrahydrofolates ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; therapeutic use ; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND:The microvolt T-wave alternans (MTWA) is an important index for ventricular arrhythmias prediction and is a promising tool to evaluate non-invasively malignant ventricular arrhythmia and risk of sudden death.OBJECTIVE:To introduce a algorithm for detecting TWA using Poincare mapping method (PM),which is a technique for dynamics systems to display periodic behavior.METHODS:Samples series of beat to beat cycles were selected to prepare Poincare mapping to describe TWA distdbution.D_(twa),which denoted the sum distances between the origin to even and odd series,was used to present the presence and absence of TWA.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:This algorithm was applied in MIT/BIH Arrhythmia database and European ECG ST-T database,and D_(twa) used for correlation analysis with V_(twa),which denoted TWA amplitude of Spectrum Method.The cross-correlation coefficient was γ= 0.984.The algorithm can identify the absence and presence of TWA accurately and provide idea for further study of TWA-PM.

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in the clinical efficacy on premature ovarian failure (POF) between the acupoint catgut implantation combined with artifical periodic therapy and the simple artificial periodic therapy and explore its effect mechanism.

METHODSSixty-five patients of POF were randomized into the two groups. In a western medication group, 32 cases were treated with the artificial periodic therapy with the oral administration of medroxyprogesterone acetate tablets. In a catgut implantation + western medication group, 33 cases were treated with the acupoint catgut implantation combined with artificial periodic therapy. The acupoints of Neiguan (PC 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were selected. The treatment was lasted for half a year and the follow-up visit was for another half a year in the two groups. Kupperman index was used to assess the improvements in the clinical symptoms. The levels of serum sexual hormones such as follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E2) were evaluated of the patients in the two groups before and after treatment. The efficacy was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe scores of the clinical symptoms were all significantly improved after treatment and in the follow-up in the two groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). In the 6-month follow-up visit after treatment, the result in the catgut implantation + western medication group was better than that in the western medication group (8.17 +/- 1.19 vs 13.68 +/- 1.08, P < 0.01). FSH was reduced after treatment in the two groups (all P < 0.01) and E2 was increased (all P < 0.05). The curative and remarkably effective rates were 75.8% (25/33) and 81.8% (27/22) after treatment and in the follow-up visit in the catgut implantation + western medication group, which were better than 67.9% (19/28) and 53.6% (15/28) in the western medication group separately (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe acupoint catgut implantation combined with artificial periodic therapy achieve the remarkable improvements in the clinical symptoms of POF in the patients and the better results as compared with the simple western medication therapy. The combined therapys efficacy is stable and the long-term efficacy is apparently superior. The effect mechanism is related to the improvements in the serum sexual hormone levels.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Catgut ; utilization ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; metabolism ; Humans ; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency ; metabolism ; therapy ; Prostheses and Implants ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the relating factors for cognitive dysfunction in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).Methods Totally 150 patients with acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) and 150 gender and age-matched healthy subjects (controls) received the cognitive and depression function assessment.150 AECOPD cases were classified into two groups:COPD patients with or without cognitive dysfunction.Fasting blood uric acid (UA) was measured and compared between the two groups.Relating factors for cognition dysfunction were analyzed.Results The score of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was reduced in AECOPD patients as compared with controls [(19.01±3.58) vs.(26.58±1.42)scores,t=-3.48,P=0.032].The score of Hamilton depression (HAMD) scale was higher in AECOPD patients than in controls [(18.05 ± 4.50) vs.(9.98 ± 3.51) scores,t =4.63,P =0.028].The prevalence of cognitive impairment in the patients with AECOPD was 82 cases (54.7％).The serum UA level was lower in the AECOPD patients with cognitive impairment than in patients without cognitive impairment [(235±42) μmol/L (n=82) vs.(332±45) μmol/L (n=68),t=-6.65,P=0.003].In AECOPD patients,the cognitive function was correlated with education,length of hospital stay,serum UA level,COPD stages,disease duration and the depression level,but was not correlated with smoking and body mass index.Conclusions The cognitive impairment is highly prevalent in patients with AECOPD,which is associated with lower serum UA level,longer hospital stay and disease severity.

To summarize the research and application of ecological planting technique for Coptis chinensis, and describe the recent development of its chemical components, pharmacological effects and clinical applications.
Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Berberine ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Coptis ; chemistry ; classification ; growth & development ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Dysentery, Bacillary ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; growth & development

Placebo-controlled clinical trials have been more and more emphasized in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) researches, while the preparation of TCM placebos is still to be improved. For this work, some elements should be taken into consideration comprehensively, including the design of clinical trial, the characteristics of researched disease, the nature of testing drugs, and the way of medication, etc. And the technological process for placebo manufacturing should be selected properly depending upon the basis of the above elements. Un-biased foodstuff is good as excipient for TCM placebos preparation. The placebo should be made in dosage-form similar to that of the testing drug as possible, if there are difficulties for simulating them in appearance and smell completely. However, its potential pharmacological activity meeting to the acceptance of researchers should be ensured.
Clinical Trials as Topic ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Placebos ; standards

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a commonly seen disease in clinical practice, and Chinese medicine shows certain preponderance in treating the disease contrasted with modern medicine. However, the clinical effect of Chinese medicine was hardly approved by the world, and the lack of widely accepted clinical assessment indices (CAI) is an important cause. The establishment of Chinese medicine CAI system for studying IBS was discussed in this paper based upon the characteristics of clinical effect and clinical assessment of Chinese medicine.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; Treatment Outcome