Objective:To observe the efficacy of acupuncture at points of Shaoyang meridians plus moving cupping on neck and shoulder for migraine. Methods:A total of 64 migraine cases were randomly allocated into an observation group and a control group, 32 cases in each group. Random number table method was used in allocation. Acupuncture at points of Shaoyang meridians and cupping on neck and shoulder were used for cases in the observation group, which contain acupuncture 5 times a week and cupping once a week. Oral flunarizine hydrochloride capsules were used for cases in the control group, 10 mg for each dose, 1 dose a day. 2 weeks constitutes a course of treatment. The patients were treated for two courses of treatment in both groups. After that, the changes of visual analogue scale (VAS) and the migraine disability assessment questionnaire (MIDAS) were observed, as well as the clinical efficacy. Results:The total effective rate and recovery and marked effective rate in the observation group were 93.8% and 71.0% respectively, versus 78.1% and 43.8% in the control group, showing statistical significant differences (both P<0.05). There were significant decreases in VAS and MIDAS scores after treatments in both groups (both P<0.05). VAS and MIDAS scores in the observation group were significantly different from those in the control group (both P<0.05). Conclusion: Combining acupuncture at points of Shaoyang meridians and cupping on neck and shoulder can relieve headache and reduce influence of migraine on life. It can produce a better efficacy than oral flunarizine hydrochloride capsules in treating migraine patients.

Cyclophosphamide (CPA) is the most common alkylating antineoplastic agent, as well as a strong immunosuppressant that is frequently applied to autoimmune diseases and organ transplantation. It is metabolized by cytochrome P450 oxidases (CYPs) to its active metabolite which played a critical role in therapy. CPA has serious and even fatal side effects, and its efficacy and adverse reactions are significantly varied among individuals. In this review, the association of the genetic polymorphisms in the metabolic enzymes and transporters involved in the disposition of CPA with the efficacy and adverse effects of CPA were summarized, thereby providing fundamental reference for further pharmacogenomic study of CPA.
Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating ; pharmacology ; Cyclophosphamide ; pharmacology ; Humans ; NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase ; metabolism ; Pharmacogenetics

Objective To determine the significance of renin angiotensin system (RAS) expressed on placenta in pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH). Methods The expression of placental angiotensin Ⅱtype 1 receptor (AT 1R) and angiotensinogen (AGT) in patients with PIH ( n =20) were investigated and compared with controls ( n =15) using immunohistochemistry and semi quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR). Results AT 1R was mainly found in the syncytiotrophoblasts, cytotrophoblasts,the vascular endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. The expression of AT 1R in PIH group (112.43?11.75) was higher than that of control group (170.47? 10.59) ( P

Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is an essential cofactor for all three nitric oxide synthase (NOS isoforms), which plays an important role in vascular diseases. GTP cyclohydrolase 1 (GCH 1) is the first-step and rate-limiting enzyme for BH4 biosynthesis in its de novo pathway. Common GCH1 gene variant C+243T in the 3'-untranslated region predicts NO excretion. The present study examined the predictive role of GCH 1 gene 3'-UTR C+243T variant in the long-term outcome of ischemic stroke. A total of 142 patients with first-onset ischemic stroke were recruited and detected for genotype of GCH1 3'-UTR C+243T by a TaqMan SNP Genotyping assay. Subsequent vascular events and death were determined over a 5-year follow-up period. The frequency of GCH1 3'-UTR +243 C/T or T/T genotype was significantly increased in patients with endpoint events as compared with those without events (74% vs 57.8%, P=0.06). Cox regression survival analysis indicated that an increased probability of death or new vascular events was found in patients with GCH1 3'-UTR +243 C/T or T/T genotype compared with those with GCH1 3'-UTR C/C genotype (40.6% vs 25.5%), GCH1 3'-UTR +243 C/T or T/T genotype relative to GCH1 3'-UTR C/C genotype was associated with the increased risk of death or vascular events even after adjustment for other risk factors (OR=2.171, 95% CI: 1.066-4.424, P=0.033). It was concluded that GCH1 3'-UTR C+243T variant was an independent predictor of worsening long-term outcomes in patients with first-onset ischemic stroke.

This paper describes a calibration phantom system for QCT bone mineral density determination, which consists of 4-standard-solid-sample calibration phantom, a quality assurance (QA) phantom and the bone mineral density analysis software. The system adds to the new applications of CT systems, and provides a new method with a good accuracy and reliability for the examination, diagnosis, prevention, treatment of osteoporosis diseases and the observation of curative effect of drugs.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; instrumentation ; methods ; Algorithms ; Animals ; Bone Density ; Calibration ; Equipment Design ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Osteoporosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Phantoms, Imaging ; Software ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; instrumentation ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between galectin-1 expression and the biological behaviors of human colorectal carcinoma.

METHODSSP immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of galectin-1 in 158 paraffin-embedded specimens including 30 normal mucosa, 25 adenoma, 65 colorectal carcinoma and 38 metastatic tumor specimens. Real-time RT-PCR was used to detect galectin-1 mRNA expression in 32 fresh specimens of colorectal carcinoma and normal mucosa.

RESULTSThe positive expression level of galectin-1 was significantly different between normal mucosa, adenoma, colorectal carcinomas and metastatic tumors, with positivity rate of 0, 8%, 66% and 86%, respectively (P<0.05). Galectin-1 expression in moderately or well differentiated colorectal carcinomas was significantly lower than that in poorly differentiated ones (P=0.031), and its expression in invasive carcinomas was significantly higher than that in non-invasive carcinomas (P=0.000). Galectin-1 expression in colorectal carcinomas was significantly related with lymph node metastasis (P=0.004). In poorly differentiated colorectal carcinomas, the expression of galectin-1 mRNA was about 2.27 times that in moderately or well differentiated colorectal carcinomas (P=0.00); galectin-1 mRNA expression in invasive carcinoma was 1.98 times that in non-invasive carcinoma (P=0.002). In tumors with lymph node metastasis, galectin-1 mRNA expression was 1.42 times that in tumors without metastasis (P=0.018).

CONCLUSIONGalectin-1 can be involved in the development and progression of colorectal carcinoma, and may relate to the infiltration, differentiation and lymph node metastasis of colorectal carcinoma.

Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Galectin 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intestinal Mucosa ; cytology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the relationship between nutritional status and quality of life ( QOL) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy, and to identify the optimal indices of body composition for evaluation of malnutrition. Methods Based on the European Society Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition ( ESPEN) consensus on the diagnosis of malnutrition and patient?generated subjective global assessment (PG?SGA), a prospective study was performed in 48 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma who received concurrent chemoradiotherapy in our hospital from 2014 to 2015. Changes in body composition and nutritional status were evaluated in those patients. The relationship between nutritional status and QOL was studied. The predictive factors for nutritional status in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were explored. The correlation between datasets was evaluated by the Pearson correlation coefficient. The influencing factors for nutritional status were analyzed by Logistic regression. Results During concurrent chemoradiotherapy, some indices of body composition, including weight, body mass index ( BMI) , fat mass index ( FMI) , fat?free mass index ( FFMI) , body cell mass ( BCM) , skeletal muscle mass ( SM) , and phase angle ( PA) had different degrees of reduction ( P=0?00) , while the PG?SGA score gradually increased. The incidence of malnutrition in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma during radiotherapy was 2?1%?39?6% based on 2015 ESPEN consensus on the diagnosis of malnutrition and 12?5%?41?7% based on PG?SGA. These two methods showed good agreement at the fourth and sixth weeks of radiotherapy ( Kappa=0?911;Kappa=0?957) . The changes in QOL score were correlated with changes in FFMI and weight during radiotherapy ( r= 0?805, P= 0?00;r= 0?777, P= 0?00 ) . Logistic regression indicated that age, FMI, and FFMI were influencing factors for nutritional status ( P= 0?035, 0?013, 0?043) . Conclusions Patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma have substantial nutritional deterioration during chemoradiotherapy. The nutritional status is closely associated with QOL. A prediction model of nutritional status can provide a comprehensive and accurate judgment of nutritional status in patients.

Objective To investigate changes of the interhemispheric coordination integrity in patients with hemi-parkinsonism using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-fMRI) homotopy technique called voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity(VMHC).Methods Sixteen Parkinson disease(PD) patients with right body side motor symptom onset(RPD),15 patients with left side onset(LPD),and 19 age-,gender-,and education-matched healthy controls(HC) were included in this study.rs-fMRI scanning and pre-processed the raw data were performed.Then by using analysis of variance(ANOVA) and two sample t tset,we performed VMHC analyses on rs-fMRI data of these participants(P＜0.05,corrected with AlphaSim,clusters≥16 voxels).Exploratory linear correlations analyses were performed between the VMHC of regions showing significant group differences and the clinical features of LPD or RPD patients.Results Compared with HCs,patients with LPD had significantly reduced VMHC in visual regions,sensorimotor regions,and the cerebellar cortex(voxels size of 17-77,t=-5.06--3.42,P＜0.05).Patients with RPD exhibited decreased VMHC in the prefrontal cortex and sensorimotor regions.Both LPD and RPD groups had increased VMHC in subcortical regions.When compared with the RPD group,the LPD group displayed decreased VMHC in the visual regions,sensorimotor regions(voxels=16 and 18; t=-3.68and-3.87,respectively,both P＜0.05) and increased VMHC in the supramarginal gyrus(voxels=4,t=4.72,P＜0.05);ROI-based correlation analyses indicated that the VMHC in the inferior occipital gyrus and the postcentral gyrus was negatively correlated with the BDI-Ⅱ scores in the LPD group(r=-0.58 and-0.59,respectively; both P＜0.05),and positively correlated with the MMSE scores(r=0.56 and 0.52,respectively;both P＜0.05).In the RPD group,a positive correlation was found for the VMHC in the supramarginal gyrus and the illness duration(r=0.56,P＜0.05) and for the VMHC in the postcentral gyrus and the(mini-mental state exam) MMSE(r=0.53,P＜0.05).Conclusions The differential pattern of deficits in the interhemispheric coordination integrity in hemi-parkinsonism reflected by VMHC may provide insights into the neurological pathophysiology underlying the asymmetry of symptom appearance in PD.

Objective To investigate how gene silence of CD40 by small interfering RNA(siRNA)influences the balance between Th1 / Th2 and Th17 / Treg in rats with experimental autoimmune myocarditis(EAM). Methods Lewis rats were divided into a normal - control group,EAM group,CD40 siRNA - therapy group and siRNA - control group by using random number table. EAM,CD40 siRNA - therapy and siRNA - control groups were immunized on day 0 and day 7 with purified porcine cardiac myosin to establish EAM,and CD40 siRNA was administered intravenously on day 7. The basic data of each group were observed,and the rats were executed on day 21 to study the pathology of myo-cardial tissues and the myocardial histopathology scores were calculated,and than the changes in electrocardiograms (ECG)and echocardiogram were recorded. Enzyme - linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to determine the levels of interferon(IFN) - γ,interleukin(IL) - 10,IL - 17 and transforming growth factor(TGF)- β in peripheral blood. Results (1)The overall incidence of EAM,CD40 siRNA - therapy and siRNA - control group was 100% ,and no rats died from day 0 to day 21.(2)There were only 2 premature rats in EAM and siRNA - control groups,and the ECGs of normal - control group and CD40 siRNA - therapy group were normal.(3)The echocardiogram of EAM,CD40 siRNA - therapy and siRNA - control group,displayed the left ventricular dilatation,hypertrophy of the left ventricle, the weakening of the left ventricular wall motion,and heart failure,and pericardial effusion was discovered. The left ven-tricular fractional shortening(LVFS)and the left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)of rats treated by CD40 siRNA were higher than those of rats in the EAM group[(46. 70 ± 8. 25)% vs(34. 28 ± 11. 81)% ,(80. 92 ± 11. 76)% vs (64. 03 ± 12. 60)% ,F = 0. 652,0. 234,all P ﹤ 0. 05].(4)Pathologic examination of the EAM group,CD40 siRNA therapy group and siRNA control groups,showed myocardial fiber fracture,myocardial tissue necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration. But myocardial tissue pathological scores of the cardiac tissue of CD40 siRNA therapy group was lower than those of the EAM group(2. 10 ± 1. 07 vs 3. 40 ± 0. 72,F = 1. 290,P ﹤ 0. 05).(5)ELISA method examination re-vealed that the levels of IFN - γ,IL - 4,IL - 17 and TGF - β in EAM group were increased compared with those of nor-mal control group[(1 245. 55 ± 244. 56)ng/ L vs(501. 53 ± 18. 93)ng/ L,(78. 03 ± 10. 47)ng/ L vs(30. 77 ± 1. 74)ng/ L,(80. 82 ± 13. 33)ng/ L vs(27. 98 ± 3. 01)ng/ L,(156. 27 ± 12. 11)ng/ L vs(4. 33 ± 0. 79)ng/ L,t =7. 408,10. 764,9. 250,30. 608,all P ﹤ 0. 05]. However,the levels of IFN - γ and IL - 17 in CD40 siRNA therapy group were lower than those in the EAM group[(940. 62 ± 128. 40)ng/ L vs(1 245. 55 ± 244. 56)ng/ L,(60. 42 ± 12. 40) ng/ L vs(80. 82 ± 13. 33)ng/ L,t = 2. 704,2. 745,all P ﹤ 0. 05],while the levels of IL - 4 and TGF - β were higher [(97. 91 ± 13. 62)ng/ L vs(78. 03 ± 10. 47)ng/ L,(178. 84 ± 12. 10)ng/ L vs(156. 27 ± 12. 11)ng/ L,t = 2. 835, 3. 229,all P ﹤ 0. 05]. Conclusions The administration of CD40 siRNA markedly reduces myocardial inflammation of EAM rats and improves their cardiac function,which can be explained by Th1 - type and Th17 - type cytokines inhibi-ted,Th2 - type and Treg - type cytokines increased,and so then the imbalance of Th1 / Th2 and Th17 / Treg corrected.

The study aims to develop a rapid, sensitive and specified method of liquid chromatography with heated electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HESI/MS/MS) for simultaneous determination of amlodipine, benazepril and benazeprilat in human plasma using amlodipine-d4 and ubenimex as internal standards (ISs). Selected reaction monitoring (SRM) with heated electrospray ionization (HESI) was used in the positive mode for mass spectrometric detection. Analytes and ISs were extracted from plasma by simple protein precipitation. The reconstituted samples were chromatographed on a C18 (100 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 microm) column with mixture of methanol-acetonitrile-5 mmol.L- ammonium acetate-formic acid (30 : 30 : 40 : 0.1) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.6 mL.min-1. The standard curves were demonstrated to be linear in the range of 0.02 to 6.00 ng.mL-1 for amlodipine, 0.2 to 1,500 ng.mL-1 for benazepril and benazeprilat with r2>0.99 for each analyte. The lower limit of quantitation was identifiable and reproducible at 0.02, 0.2 and 0.2 ng mL-1 for amlodipine, benazepril and benazeprilat, respectively. The intra-day and inter-day precision and accuracy results were within the acceptable limit across all concentrations. The plasma samples were stable after four freeze-thaw cycles and being stored for 93 days at -20 degrees C. The method was applied to a pharmacokinetic study of a fixed-dose combination of amlodipine and benazepril on Chinese healthy volunteers.
Administration, Oral ; Amlodipine ; administration & dosage ; blood ; Benzazepines ; administration & dosage ; blood ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry