Objective:To find out markers of endometriosis. Methods: The two dimensional gel images of proteins extracted from eutopic endometrium from endometriosis patients and controls were analyzed by software Phoretix 2D,and the proteins expressed differently were identified primarily by query of data base.The proteins extracted from ectopic endometrium of ovarian endometriosis were transferred from two dimensional gel onto nitrocellulose membranes,followed by incubation with sera from women with and without endometriosis. Analyzed by MALDI-TOF-MS,the proteins hybridized differently were identified through their Peptide Mass Footprints. Results: Having compared the reproducible two dimensional gel images of proteins from eutopic endometrium of women with and without endometriosis,we obtained 11 proteins expressed differently.Through Western Blot technique,we found three proteins hybridized differently which were identified as vimentin,?-actin and ATP synthase ? subunit respectively. Conclusion: The protein expression spectra of eutopic endometrium from patients with endometriosis are significantly different from those of the controls,and the anti-endometrial autoantibodies against vimentin, ?-actin and ATP synthase ? subunit may be induced.

With references of historical materials and modern literature regarding acupoint characteristic, a secondary analysis on the concept, origin, related factors and research methods in present research of acupoint characteristic is performed. The acupoint characteristic should be considered as an acupoint inherent attribute that could explain physiological and pathological manifestations at the same time, including location attribute and function attribute, which is related with time and treatment method. Some re-thinking on acupoint characteristic is proposed as well as advice on further research method and direction, hoping to promote the research development of acupoint characteristic.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; history ; China ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Medicine in Literature ; Meridians

OBJECTIVETo determine the effects of Jiji decoction (Traditional Chinese Medicine) on the cognitive function and oxidative stress in mice with vascular dementia (VD) induced by cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.

METHODSThirty-two mice were randomly divided into nonnal group (n = 8), sham group (operation, but no cerebral ischemia/reperfusi6n, n = 8), model group (vascular dementia model induced by cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, n = 8), and Jiji decoction-treated group (vascular dementia model plus treatment with Jiji decoction, n = 8). Fourteen days of treatment after operation, the cognitive behavior was measured in step-through test, spatial probe test and platform test. Afterwards, to assess the levels of oxidative stress, the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and content of malonaldehyde (MDA) in brain of these mice were measured.

RESULTSData from step-through test indicated that the escaping latency of Jiji decoction-treated group was prolonged and the error counts were decreased significantly ( P <0.01) compared with those of model group. Data from spatial probe test indicated that the time of entering darkroom, the time of climbing height and the time of entering bright room in Jiji decoction-treated group were shortened and the counts of climbing height were increased (P < 0.05-0.01) significantly compared with those of model group. Data from platform test showed that the escaping latency of Jiji decoction-treated group was prolonged significantly (P < 0.01) compared with that of model group. Compared with normal and sham group, the activity of SOD was decreased and the content of MDA was increased in model group significantly (P < 0.01). Compared with those of model group, the levels of SOD and MDA in Jiji decoction-treated group were improved significantly (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONJiji decoction could improve cognitive function of VD mice. Its mechanism might be related with the inhibition of oxidative stiess in the brain.

Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cerebral Infarction ; physiopathology ; Cognition ; drug effects ; Dementia, Vascular ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Objective To assess the diagnostic value of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody(an- ti-CCP),rheumatoid factor,anti-perinuclear factor(APF)and anti-keratin antibody(AKA)for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis(JRA)and compare it with rheumatoid arthritis(RA).Methods Anti-CCP was determined by ELISA in 54 serum samples of JRA patients,31 from patients with other rheumatic diseases and 116 RA patients.RF was determined in the same samples by latex agglutination test.APF and AKA were determined by indirect immunofluorescent assay.Results The sensitivity of anti-CCP,RF,APF and AKA was 61.1%, 57.4%,37.0% and 18.5% and their specificity was 96.8%,93.6%,96.8% and 100%,respectively for the diag- nosis of JRA.The sensitivity of anti-CCP resembleed that of RF,Anti-CCP was more sensitivity than APF and AKA in JRA.The sensitivity of anti-CCP,RF,APF and AKA was 82.3%,78.3%,48.7% and 25.4% and their specificity was 95.7%,73.7%,91.6%,94.0% respectively,for the diagnosis of RA.Anti-CCP,RF,APF and AKA were less sensitive in JRA than in RA.There was no statistical significance in specificity of these anti- bodies for the diagnosis of JRA and RA.Conclusion The detection of anti-CCP,RF,APF and AKA are use- ful for the diagnosis of JRA,but are less sensitive than in adults RA.

Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Guinea Pigs ; Heart Ventricles ; Ion Channels ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology ; Male ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; physiology ; Promethazine ; pharmacology ; Terfenadine ; pharmacology ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of bleomycin (BLM) on the apoptosis of type II alveolar epithelial cell (AT II) in lung fibrotic rats and its possible mechanisms.

METHODSTotally 32 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group (n = 8) and BLM group (n = 24). Rats in sham group or BLM group were intratracheally instillated with saline or 5 mg/kg of bleomycin, respectively. One, three, and seven days after the instillation of bleomycin, 8 rats in BLM group were taken for AT II isolation and purification. Rats in sham group were used to isolate and purify AT II on 7 days after the instillation of saline. The cell cycle and apoptosis, intracellular free calcium concentration, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in AT II were determined by flow cytometry. Immunohistochemistry was performed to observe the expressions of Bax, Bcl-2, and Fas. Caspase-3, Caspase-8, and Caspase-9 activities were measured by Caspase activity detection kit.

RESULTSThe ratio of S phase AT II in BLM group was significantly lower than in sham group (P < 0.05). AT II apoptosis rates on day 1 and 3 were significantly higher in BLM group than in sham group (P < 0.01). Intracellular free calcium concentrations in BLM group were significantly higher than in sham group (P < 0.05). However, MMP was significantly lower than sham group (P < 0.05). The positive rates of Bax, Fas and Caspase-3, Caspase-8, and Caspase-9 activities of BLM group were significantly higher than those of sham group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The positive rates of Bcl-2 on day 1 and 3 were significantly lower than those of sham group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEarly AT II apoptosis may be induced by bleomycin, which may be explained by the increase of intracellular free calcium concentration, depression of MMP, increased expressions of Fas and Bax, and increase of Caspase-3, Caspase-8, and Caspase-9 activities.

Alveolar Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Bleomycin ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 8 ; metabolism ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Fas Ligand Protein ; metabolism ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of extracts of root of kudzu vine on mammary gland and uterus development in rats.

METHOD40 Wistar rats weighting 65-85 g were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group, estrogen group, extracts of root of kudzu vine group of high dose, extracts of root of kudzu vine group of low dose. (10 rats in each group). After having been treated for 7 days, the rats were killed; mammary glands and uterus were removed and weighed. Serum was isolated and kept at 4 degrees C for determination of hormones.

RESULT1. Administration of the root of kudzu vine significantly increased the weigh of mammary gland and uterus in rats. 2. Administration of the root of kudzu vine increased serum FSH, LH, E2 and decreased PRL.

CONCLUSIONExtracts of root of kudzu vine could enhance the weight of mammary gland and uterus growth in rats, which may provide experimental evidence for the development of new drug used for promoting mammary gland and uterus.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Mammary Glands, Animal ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Prolactin ; blood ; Pueraria ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Uterus ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development

AIM To conduct a metabolic research for a better understanding of nephrogenic edema and to assess the integral efficacy of Mori Cortex in rat model.METHODS The serum creatinine,urea nitrogen,albumin and urinary protein levels in rats were detected.UPLC-QTOF-MS was used to detect the urine metabolites changes,Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Orthogonal Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA)were used to screen potential biomarkers,after whose quantification,Mev software was adopted for heat map draw-ing and hierarchical cluster analysis.RESULTS The model rats manifested significantly increased levels of serum creatinine,urea nitrogen and urinary protein,decreased albumin level,and an obviously excessive amino acid metabolism as well.The 41 identified biomarkers were mainly related to disturbances in phenylalanine,pyrimidine,arginine and proline,glycine,serine and threonine,tryptophan,cysteine and methionine metabolism,and biosynthesis of pantothenic acid and coenzyme A.A reversal trend in aforementioned levels of biochemical indexes and most biomarkers due to the intervention by Mori Cortex signaled an improvement in the metabolic disorder,renal dysfunction and edema.CONCLUSION The metabolic study demonstrates the pathological status of nephrogenic edema and assesses the effect of Mori Cortex from an overall perspective,highlighting a new approach for illustrating Chinese medical syndrome and the underlying mechanism in the management of traditional Chinese medicine.

BACKGROUND: In the treatment of unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis, unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) has the advantages of less blood loss, less trauma, quick recovery, maximum retention of bone mass, low cost, few complications and high patient satisfaction. However, it has not been extensively accepted by orthopedic surgeons. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the clinical effect and imaging changes of UKA versus total knee arthroplasty(TKA)in the same patient with bilateral unicompartment knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: A total of 38 patients with bilateral unicompartment knee osteoarthritis undergoing UKA and TKA were selected, and all the cases were performed by the same surgeon. Among them, 10 cases were replaced at the same time, and 28 cases were in staging surgery. The clinical data of the patients were collected, including the preoperative and postoperative Knee Society Score sores, the range of motion of the knee, and limb alignment, and postoperative complications. Comparison between bilateral knee joints was conducted by paired t test. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) All patients were followed up for 3-36 months, and no aseptic prosthesis loosening, unexplained pain or other complications occurred. (2) The postoperative Knee Society Score sores in UKA and TKA were significantly higher than those before surgery, and the scores did not differ significantly between UKA and TKA at each time point (P > 0.05). (3) The range of motion of the knee in the UKA group was significantly larger than that in the TKA group at the last follow-up postoperatively (P < 0.05). (4) The limb alignment was improved in both groups, which showed no significant difference at different time points (P > 0.05). (5) Totally 20 patients felt preference for UKA, 18 patients preferred TKA, and most patients were satisfied with the surgical efficacy. (6)There were no significant differences in the Knee Society Score, range of motion of the knee, hip-knee-ankle angle and femorotibial angle at the last follow-up between staging and same time arthroplasties. (7)These findings imply that for patients with bilateral unicompartment knee osteoarthritis, both UKA and TKA can correct the lower limb force line, correct the limb alignment similarly, but UKA holds advantages in less trauma, high patient's satisfaction, and good functional recovery, so it should be selected firstly. Notably, staging or same time surgery makes no effect on the clinical effectiveness.

Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics and risk factors of concurrent infection in adult patients with hypopituitarism (HP).Methods:Clinical data of patients diagnosed with HP in Fuyang People′s Hospital from October 2016 to August 2020 were collected. Patients were divided into infected group and non-infected group according to whether they were co-infected, and the differences in clinical characteristics between the two groups were compared. The risk factors of infection in HP patients were analyzed by binary logistic regression.Results:The top three clinical manifestations of 64 HP patients were decreased libido; lack of energy, fear of cold, and poor appetite; hyponatremia. Etiological analysis of 64 HP patients: 23 cases of Sheehan′s syndrome, 14 cases of postoperative brain tumors (pituitary adenoma, craniopharyngioma, meningioma), 8 cases of idiopathic, 7 cases of pituitary adenoma, 8 cases of pituitary volume and morphology changes, and 4 cases of empty sella turcica. 40.32%(25/62) of patients with adrenal axis dysfunction received glucocorticoid replacement therapy, with 80%(20/25) receiving prednisone and 20%(5/25) receiving hydrocortisone. The replacement dose was 2.5-25(6.77±3.90)mg of prednisone equivalent dose. 37.70%(23/61) of patients with low thyroid axis function received thyroid hormone replacement therapy, of which 52.17%(12/23) free thyroxine (FT4) levels were still lower than the lower normal limit. 20%(2/10) of males ≤60 years old and 5.56%(1/18) of females≤50 years old received hormone replacement therapy for patients with hypogonadism of the gonadal axis. Among 64 HP patients included, 29 were co-infected (infected group) and 35 were not co-infected (non infected group). There was no significant difference between the infected group and the non infected group in gender, etiology, number of pituitary axis involved, glucocorticoid replacement therapy dose, thyroid hormone replacement therapy dose, and sex hormone replacement therapy rate (all P>0.05). Compared with the non infected group, the infected group was older, had a longer course of disease, lower diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and albumin levels, with statistically significant difference (all P<0.05), while the other indicators showed no statistically significant difference (all P>0.05). The results of binary logistic regression analysis showed that age, course of disease, occupation, and albumin level were the influencing factors of HP complicated infection (all P<0.05). Conclusions:The most common cause of pituitary dysfunction in adults is Sheehan′s syndrome; Adult HP patients who are older, have a longer course of disease, work as farmers, and have hypoalbuminemia are more likely to develop concurrent infections.