Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; Middle Aged ; Paraganglioma

OBJECTIVETo observe therapeutic effect of point-through-point acupuncture on cerebellar ataxia after apoplexy and evaluate the safety.

METHODSRandom, parallel control, single blind and multicentral study method was used and 224 cases from 4 hospitals were divided equally into a treatment group and a control group, 112 cases in each group. The treatment group were treated with point-through-point acupuncture and the control group with general needling method. Their symptoms and signs, and the effect on transcranial Doppler's method (TCD) were investigated.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 93.3% in the treatment group which was better than 77.4% in the control group, with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01), and the point-through-point acupuncture could significantly improve TCD of basilar artery, vertebral artery and posterior inferior cerebellar artery (Vs, Vm, Vd, PI, RI), superior to the control group.

CONCLUSIONThe point-through-point acupuncture has obvious therapeutic effect on cerebellar ataxia after apoplexy and good safety.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Cerebellar Ataxia ; Humans ; Single-Blind Method ; Stroke ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of juglone on the ultrastructure of human liver cancer BEL-7402 cells.

METHODSBEL-7402 cells were incubated in the presence of 12.5 micromol/L juglone for 24 h, and fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde for HE staining and Coomassie brilliant blue staining and scanning electron microscopy.

RESULTSIncubation with juglone resulted in obvious changes in the cell morphology and cytoskeletal alterations of the cells. Scanning electron microscopy revealed reduced volume of the cell bodies, dissociation of the cells, curling and malformation of the microvilli on the cell surface with rupture of the intercellular junction and enlargement of the intercellular space. The formation of apoptotic bodies was observed. Transmission electron microscopy showed expansion of the endoplasmic reticula, mitochondrial cristea disintegration, nucleolar fragmentation and formation of the apoptotic bodies after the exposure to juglone for 24 h.

CONCLUSIONJuglone can cause ultrastructural changes of human liver cancer BEL-7402 cells and induce their apoptosis.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; ultrastructure ; Naphthoquinones ; pharmacology

Neurodegenerative disease is common and frequently occurs in elderly patients. Previous studies have shown that ginsenoside Rg1 was able to inhibit senescent of brain, but the mechanism on the brain during the treatment remains elucidated. To study the mechanism of ginsenoside Rg1 in the process of anti-aging of brain, forty male SD rats were randomly divided into normal group, Rg1 normal group, brain aging model group and Rg1 brain aging model group, each group with 10 rats (brain aging model group: subcutaneous injection of D-galactose (120 mg kg(-1)), qd for 42 consecutive days; Rg1 brain aging model group: while copying the same test as that of brain aging model group, begin intraperitoneal injection of ginsenosides Rg1 (20 mg x kg(-1)) qd for 27 d from 16 d. Rg1 normal group: subcutaneous injection of the same amount of saline; begin intraperitoneal injection of ginsenosides Rg1 (20 mg x kg(-1)) qd for 27 d from 16 d. Normal: injected with an equal volume of saline within the same time. Perform the related experiment on the second day after finishing copying the model or the completion of the first two days of drug injections). Learning and memory abilities were measured by Morris water maze. The number of senescent cells was detected by SA-beta-Gal staining while the level of IL-1 and IL-6 proinflammatory cytokines in hippocampus were detected by ELISA. The activities of SOD, contents of GSH in hippo- campus were quantified by chromatometry. The change of telomerase activities and telomerase length were performed by TRAP-PCR and southern blotting assay, respectively. It is pointed that, in brain aging model group, the spatial learning and memory capacities were weaken, SA-beta-Gal positive granules increased in section of brain tissue, the activity of antioxidant enzyme SOD and the contents of GSH decreased in hippocampus, the level of IL-1 and IL-6 increased in hippocampus, while the length of telomere and the activity of telomerase decreased in hippocampus. Rats of Rg1 brain aging group had their spatial learning and memory capacities enhanced, SA-beta-Gal positive granules in section of brain tissue decreased, the activity of antioxidant enzyme SOD and the contents of GSH increased in hippocampus, the level of IL-1 and IL-6 in hippocampus decreased, the length contraction of telomere suppressed while the change of telomerase activity increased in hippocampus. Compared with that of normal group, the spatial learning and memory capacities were enhanced in Rg1 normal group, SA-beta-Gal positive granules in section of brain tissue decreased in Rg1 normal group, the level of IL-1 and IL-6 in hippocampus decreased in Rg1 normal group. The results indicated that improvement of antioxidant ability, regulating the level of proinflammatory cytokines and regulation of telomerase system may be the underlying anti-aging mechanism of Ginsenoside Rg1.
Aging ; drug effects ; Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

This study aimed to assess the relationship of OAS2 rs739901 5'-flanking C/A polymorphisms with the susceptibility to Enterovirus-71 (EV71) infection.We investigated 294 hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) Chinese children with EV71 infection (165 mild cases and 129 encephalitis cases).The improved multiplex ligation detection reaction (iMLDR) technique was used to test the genotypes.In EV71-infected patients,the CA genotype distribution (P=0.007),A allele frequency (OR 1.32,95％ CI 1.0-1.7,P=0.034)and CA+AA carriage frequency (P=0.003) of OAS2 rs739901 5'-flanking were obviously elevated as compared with controls,but there were no statistically significant differences between mild cases and encephalitis cases.In EV71-infected patients,the counts of white blood cells (P=0.034) and blood glucose concentrations (P=0.042) were raised in A carriers (CA+AA).Among different genotypes of encephalitis cases,the contents of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) showed no significant differences.IFN-γ levels in EV71-infected patients were higher than those in controls (mild group vs.control group,P＜0.01;encephalitis group vs.control group,P＜0.001).In encephalitis cases,IFN-γ levels were reduced (P＜0.05) in A carriers compared to CC genotype,however,there were no significant differences between genotypes CA and AA (P=0.226).These findings suggest that OAS2 rs739901 5'-flanking C/A genetic polymorphisms involve the susceptibility to EV71 infection,and A allele might be a risk factor of the susceptibility to EV-71 infection.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the differentially expressed genes between the Stress fracture (SF) cases and controls.

METHODSTotal RNA was extracted and purified from peripheral blood sample of 3 SF cases and 3 controls who conducted a 1:1 matched case-control study, then used for Human Genome Array analysis. The hybridization data were analyzed using SAM software. Parts of these genes were analyzed and identified by real-time PCR.

RESULTSUpregulated and downregulated genes were 22 and 1, respectively. Thus the highest ratio and most significant cytokine was tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, member 10c (TNFRSF10C). The result of real-time PCR shows that TNFRSF10C was over-expressed in 3 cases and low-expressed in 1 case.

CONCLUSIONObvious difference exists in gene expression between SF cases and controls, showing there may be a lot of genes involving in the occurrence and development of SF. Meanwhile, the identification of the specific genes is helpful for biomechanics study, early diagnosis and screening of SF.

Case-Control Studies ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Fractures, Stress ; blood ; metabolism ; GPI-Linked Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 10c ; Tumor Necrosis Factor Decoy Receptors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Objective To determine the susceptibility genes and resistance genes in HLA-DRB1 alleles in Tibetan patients with cystic and alveolar hydatid diseases,so as to provide the references for the research of the genetic characteristics and infec-tion mechanism of Tibetan hydatid diseases. Methods The case control method was applied. The Tibetan patients with cystic and alveolar hydatid diseases(63 and 73 cases respectively)in Yushu and Guoluo Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,and unrelat-ed healthy people(60 cases)in this area were selected as the study subjects. The polymerase chain reaction-sequence based typ-ing(PCR-SBT)technique was applied for genotyping of HLA-DRB1,and the comparison of the gene frequency. Results The frequency of HLA-DRB1*04 in the alveolar/cystic echinococcosis group was lower than that in the control group(χ2 =4.71, 4.31,both P<0.05). Conclusion HLA-DRB1*04 genotypes may be associated with the resistance of cystic and alveolar echi-nococcosis and its resistance genes.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the influence of Shenfu Injection (SHF) on the quality of life of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving chemotherapy.

METHODSA total of 133 patients with NSCLC receiving at least two cycles of chemotherapy with taxol plus cisplatin (TP)/vinorelbine plus cisplatin (NP) or gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GP) were randomized into SHF pre-treatment group (with SHF given only in the first cycle) and SHF post-treatment group (with SHF given only in the second cycle). The Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (QLQ-C30) and the Functional Living Index-Cancer (FLIC) were used to evaluate the quality of life of the patients after the treatments.

RESULTSBoth of the groups showed improved quality of life after the treatments (P<0.01), but the improvements were more obvious in SHF pre-treatment group (P<0.05). SHF showed favorable effects in relieving such adverse effects as fatigue, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea associated with the chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONSHF can improve the quality of life in NSCLC patients receiving chemotherapies.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nausea ; prevention & control ; Paclitaxel ; administration & dosage ; Phytotherapy ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Vinblastine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Vomiting ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo establish a rat model of heatstroke complicated by endotoxemia for studying the pathogenesis of severe heatstroke.

METHODSMale specific pathogen-free Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups, namely normothermic saline group (group C), heat exposure saline group (group H), normothermic LPS group (group L), and heat exposure LPS group (group HL). The rectal temperature (Tr), heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and respiratory rate (RR) of the rats receiving different treatments were continually monitored and their white blood cell count (WBC) and histology of the lungs were observed at 0, 40, 80 and 120 min after the treatments.

RESULTSThe rats in HL-Group displayed significantly higher Tr (43.04+/-0.11 degrees C), HR (660+/-42 beats/min), and RR (150+/-11/min) but lower MAP (49.0+/-3.5 mmHg) as compared with the C Group. There were significant differences in the values of Tr, HR, RR and MAP between HL and group L and in HR and MAP between H groups HL and. The rats in group H displayed significantly higher WBC than group C. In contrast, the rats in L groups HL and had significantly lower WBC. LPS injection and heat stress induced pulmonary edema and features characteristic of acute microvascular lung injury in the rats.

CONCLUSIONThe rat model established by LPS injection and heat stress can successfully mimic the development of severe heatstroke after LPS challenge and heat stress, and provides a suitable model for studying the primordial role of the lungs in the pathogenesis of severe heatstroke.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endotoxemia ; chemically induced ; complications ; Heat Stroke ; complications ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of DNA methyltransferase 3B (DNMT3B) gene polymorphism with the development of early-onset schizophrenia.

METHODSA single nucleotide polymorphism (rs6119954) of DNMT3B gene was genotyped in 279 early-onset schizophrenic patients and 395 healthy controls, using TaqMan SNP Genotyping Assays. To detect the interaction between the DNMT3B gene and environmental factors, the prenatal information of the patients was collected.

RESULTSGenotype distribution of the rs6119954 locus was significantly different between patients and controls (Chi-square = 12.27, P< 0.01). The frequency of the G allele of this locus was significantly higher in patients than in controls (Chi-square = 12.76, P< 0.01). The G allele was highly associated with an earlier age of onset (P= 0.026). No interaction between the DNMT3B gene and environmental factors was found.

CONCLUSIONDNMT3B gene is associated with early-onset schizophrenia and rs6119954 may plays an important role in age of onset of schizophrenia.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Child ; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases ; genetics ; Environment ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Linkage ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Pregnancy ; Schizophrenia ; genetics ; Young Adult