OBJECTIVETo explore different regulatory effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at the same acupoint on the heart and the stomach.

METHODSEighty male SD rats were randomly divided into eight groups equally, i.e., the Neiguan (PC6) group, the Quchi (LI11) group, the Tianshu (ST25) group, the Danzhong (RN17) group, the Zusanli (ST36) group, the Sanyinjiao (SP6) group, the Xinshu (BL15) group, and the Weishu (BL21) group, 10 in each group. The regulatory effects of EA (2/15 Hz, 3 mA, 2 min) at different acupoints on the gastric motility (intragastric pressure) and the cardiac function (the left ventricular pressure) were observed. The mean values of effect of two-min pre-EA and after-EA were compared.

RESULTSCompared with the pre-EA in the same group, the left ventricular pressure decreased in the Neiguan (PC6) group, the Quchi (LI11) group, the Danzhong (RN17) group, the Sanyinjiao (SP6) group, and the Xinshu (BL15) group (P <0.05). The intragastric pressure increased in the Quchi (LI11) group, the Zusanli (ST36) group, the Sanyinjiao (SP6) group, and the Xinshu (BL15) group, while it decreased in the Tianshu (ST25) group, the Danzhong (RN17) group, and the Weishu (BL21) group (P <0.05). The difference of the left ventricular pressure was sequenced from high to low as Xinshu (BL15) >Danzhong (RN17) >Neiguan (PC6) >Sanyinjiao (SP6) >Quchi (LI11). The difference of the intragastric pressure was sequenced from high to low as Tianshu (ST25) >Weishu (BL21) > Xinshu (BL15) > Danzhong (RN17) > Zusanli (ST36) > Sanyinjiao (SP6) > Quchi (LI11).

CONCLUSIONSEA at the same acupoint (2/15 Hz, 3 mA) showed different regulatory effects on the heart and stomach. There existed some difference in the direction and size due to the acupoint location, meridians, dominant nerve segment or relating organs. A fixed effect direction to the specific target was also shown.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Heart ; physiology ; Male ; Meridians ; Rats, Wistar ; Stomach ; physiology

The design principles of a noninvasive ventilator's turbine are studied and discussed in this paper. The design is completed from its several aspects and in combination of related theories, using SolidWorks tools. Abundant experimental results prove that this design's technical specifications meet all the requirements.
Equipment Design ; Respiration, Artificial ; instrumentation ; methods ; Ventilators, Mechanical

OBJECTIVETo analyze micromovement of distal tihiofihular joints in different motion range of ankle joint ,and define the micromovement characteristic and range of distal tibiofihular joints.

METHODSTwelve normal Chinese were chosen. There were 9 males and 3 females, aged from 19 to 37 years old with an average (26.5 +/- 0.5) years. Detection terminals of laser photographic scanner were installed near the highest point between medial malleolus and lateral malleolos, the change of detection terminals on the position of dorsiflex, extension, introversion and eversion of ankle joint were scanned by 3D-laser scanner. The displacement of two detection terminals on the X ,Y and Z-axis (X-axis stands for the vertical-axis between coronal plane and Z-axis Y-axis stands for the vertical-axis between sagittal plane and Z-axis Z-axis stands for macroaxis of tibia).

RESULTSAlong with increased range of motion on the position of dorsiflex ,extension, introversion and eversion of ankle joint, the range of micromovement of distal tibiofibolar joints increased too. The max-displacement of X, Y and Z were respectively (1.04 +/- 0.12) mm, (1.70 +/- 0.16) mm and--(0.87 +/- 0.10) mm.

CONCLUSION3D-laser scanner can be used to determine the detailed displacement of distal tibiofibolar joint on the X , Y and Z, and measure the motion of distal tibiofibular joint. The method can be used to study the pathologic change of distal tibiofibular joint ,and provide basic biomechnics data for internal fixtor fitting for the characteristic of distal tibiofibular joint.

Adult ; Ankle Joint ; physiology ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; Fibula ; Humans ; Male ; Movement ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Tibia ; Young Adult

Objective To observe the influence of longmuzhuanggu powder(LMZGP)on gastroenteric movement and plasm motilin(MTL)in rats.Methods Rats were randomly divided into control group,model group,LMZGP large dose group,LMZGP middle dose group,and LMZGP low dose group.To establish the model of disorder of gastric depletion and small intestinal advancement by using maxolon,atropine,neostigmine and adrenaline.Gastric emptying and intestinal progradating rates in mice were tested with black nutritious semi solid cataplasm.Level of MTL in hemtatoplasma was tested by radio immunoassay.Results Maxolon accelerated gastric depletion and neostigmine accelerated intestine propagation and heightened the level of MTL in hematoplasma(P_a

Cranial Fossa, Anterior ; Humans ; Liposarcoma, Myxoid ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Skull Base Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUNDTourniquets used during total knee arthroplasty may lead to many complications. The aim of this study was to determine perioperative blood loss and its clinical relevance in total knee replacement surgery after applying a tourniquet.

METHODSFrom June 2009 to October 2009, 60 consecutive patients who underwent routine total knee arthroplasty were randomly divided into two groups and were treated with or without a tourniquet (30 patients/group). There were no significant differences in patient baseline characteristics between the two groups. We compared the two groups of patients in terms of intra- and postoperative bleeding, invisible or visible bleeding, and total blood loss.

RESULTSNone of the patients showed poor wound healing, lower extremity deep venous thrombosis or other complications. The amount of blood loss during surgery was lower in the tourniquet group than in the control group (P < 0.01). However, postoperative visible bleeding (P < 0.05) and occult bleeding (P < 0.05) were significantly greater in the tourniquet group than in the control group. There was no significant difference in the total amount of blood loss between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTourniquet can reduce bleeding during total knee replacement surgery, but is associated with greater visible and invisible blood loss.

Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; methods ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; prevention & control ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Postoperative Hemorrhage ; Tourniquets

Objective To study the relationship between Couagen Ⅰ,MMP-2,TIMP-2 gene expression and atrial fibrosis during heart failure(HF)in dog.Methods Fourteen dogs were used and randomized into HF induced by ventricular tachypacing and control group.Burst atrial pacing was used to induce atrial fibrillation(AF).And the mRNA and protein level of collagen Ⅰ,MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were detected by RT-PCR and immunohistochemical technique.Tissue samples were stained with Mallory trichrome.Results Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) decreased from (67.4? 6.0)% to (29.2?7.8)%,the inducible rate of AF(7/7 vs 2/7) and sustained AF(5/7 vs 0/7) increased and duration of AF stabeatrial fibrillation(SAF) [(462.12?181.43)s vs(0.57?0.57) s] prolonged significantly in HF group.Atrial fibrous tissue content and atrial size of HF group were significantly greater than the controls dogs(268.8% in lefe atria and 190.3% in right atria).The mRNA and protein level of collagen Ⅰ(56.2% and 132.2% in lefe atria,37.4% and 78.0% in right atria)and MMP-2 (100.0% and 115.7% in lefe atria,65.7% and 96.8% in right atria) increased evidently in both lefe atria and right atria,TIMP-2 mRNA decreased 46.3% in lefe atria and had no change in right atria and that its protein had no change in both atrium,whereas the ratio of MMP-2/ TIMP-2 of mRNA and protein increased markedly in both lefe atria (285.3% and 148.8%)and right atria (106.1% and 134.7%)of HF group.SAF had a positive correlation with fibrosis and the gene level of collagen Ⅰ in lefe atria,the ratio of MMP-2/TIMP-2 had a positive correlation with fibrosis and collagen Ⅰ gene level in lefe atria during HF.Conclusions The changes of collagen Ⅰ,MMP-2 and TIMP-2 gene expression appear to be a molecular mechanism of AF, and the molecular remodeling of collagen Ⅰ induced by regulation unbalance of MMP-2/TIMP-2 appears to be an important mechanism of atrial fibrosis during HF.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects of oxymatrine on chronic heart failure induced by isoproterenol (ISO) and to observe its effects on ADMA metabolism pathway in ISO-induced chronic heart failure in rats.

METHODMale Sprague-Dawley rats were given oxymatrine (100,50 mg kg-1) orally for 14 days. Heart failure was induced in rats by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol (5 mg kg-1 d-1 ) at the 8th day for 1 week. Serum parameters, haemodynamic parameters, Heart weight, and histopathological variables were analysed. Expression of protein levels were measured by Western blot.

RESULTOxymatrine (100,50 mg kg-1) significantly attenuated serum content of cTn I, improved left ventricle systolic and diastolic function and left ventricular remodeling, reduced the ISO-induced myocardial pathological changes compared with ISO group. In addition, oxymatrine (100,50 mg kg-1) significantly reduced serum level of ADMA (P <0. 01), normalize the reduced dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 2 (DDAH2) expression (P <0. 01) , but had no effect on the isoproterenol-induced upregulated protein arginine methyltransferases 1 expression.

CONCLUSIONOxymatrine could ameliorate the experimental ventricular remodeling in ISO-induced chronic heart failure in rats and the mechanism involved in reducing serum content of ADMA and increased DDAH2 expression.

Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Amidohydrolases ; metabolism ; Animals ; Arginine ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; metabolism ; Chronic Disease ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; drug effects ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Hemodynamics ; drug effects ; Isoproterenol ; adverse effects ; Male ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Quinolizines ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Troponin I ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDPeutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is an autosomal dominantly inherited disease. STK11/LKB1 gene germline mutations have been identified as responsible for PJS. In our study, we investigated the molecular basis of PJS and evaluated correlation between the STK11 mutations and the Chinese population.

METHODSWe collected three pedigrees of PJS and screened the 9 exons and their flanking intronic sequences of STK11/LKB1 gene in the probands and normal individuals in the families using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing.

RESULTSSequencing of the STK11 gene in the probands of 3 families revealed two novel mutations (c180C-->G and c998-1002delGCAGC) in exon 1 and exon 8, respectively. The mutation of c180C-->G resulted in a premature termination codon. The other mutation, a deletion of five nucleotides (998-1002delGCAGC) in exon 8, predicted to generate a translational frameshift and a termination at codon 1070.

CONCLUSIONSThe growing number of mutations in PJS pedigrees suggests the molecular basis of PJS. STK11 gene mutation can be detected in most patients with PJS.

Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome ; genetics ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of PG0839 gene form Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) on inflammatory cytokine expression in human oral epidermoid carcinoma KB cell.

METHODSA mutant in the PG0839 gene of Pg was created by insertional inactivation. Group 1 was chanllenged with PgW83 strain, group 2 with PG0839-defective mutant, and the control group with Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium only. KB cells were co-cultured with presence of bacteria for 24 h. At the time point of 0.5, 2, 6, 12 and 24 h, cells were stored in Trizol. The mRNA expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and Toll like recepector-4 (TLR-4) was examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSAt 2 h and 6 h, IL-1β mRNA expression was lower in group 2 than in group 1 (2 h: 0.31 ± 0.11 versus 0.95 ± 0.48, P < 0.05; 6 h: 0.57 ± 0.20 versus 1.29 ± 0.55, P < 0.05). At 0.5 h and 6 h, TLR-4 mRNA expression was lower in group 2 than in group 1 (0.5 h: 0.20 ± 0.09 versus 0.58 ± 0.09, P < 0.05; 6 h: 0.34 ± 0.04 versus 0.71 ± 0.18, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPG0839 gene may play an important role in Pg-induced inflammatory effects of KB cell.

Genes, Bacterial ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta ; genetics ; metabolism ; KB Cells ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; genetics ; metabolism