Objective To analyze the characteristics of balance impairment in stroke patients over 60 years old. Methods This was a retrospectivecase-control study. Subjects were divided into two groups, normal control group and stroke group. Tetrax Interactive Balance Systemwas used to examine stability index (ST), weight distribution percentages, weight distribution index (WDI), fall index (FI), synchronizationsand spectrum analysis of postural sway under the condition of standing still with eyes open respectively in both groups. Results Frequenciesof spectrum analysis of postural sway in the stroke group were significantly higher than that in normal control group (P<0.05) exceptthe low frequencies. The weight distribution percentages of unaffected foot and WDI of the stroke group were significantly higher thanthe normal control group (P<0.05). ST and synchronizations in the stroke group were worse than the normal control group (P<0.05). In thestroke group, correlations were found between FI and ST, FI and spectrum analysis of postural sway (except the low frequencies), as well asbetween FI and synchronizations (P<0.05). Conclusion Stability index, weight distribution percentages, weight distribution index, synchronizationsand spectrum analysis of postural sway are significantly abnormal in the elderly stroke patients with balance impairment. And theirfall index was found to be correlated to a variety of factors.

Objective To assess the clinical effectiveness and safety of relinqing pharmaceutical preparations for the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infection(UTI). Methods The genitourinary infection, urinary tract infection, pyelonephritis, cystitis, stranguria and urethritis were used as key words to search at CNKI,VIP,SinoMed,PubMed,Wan Fang and Cochrane Library Databases up to April 2015. Data of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing treatments using relinqing were included in this study. The quality of the literature was evaluated by the method of Cochrane handbook 5.1.0. Data extraction was carried out independently by two authors. RevMan 5.2 software was used for Meta-analysis. Results Five RCTs were included that involved a total of 471 uncomplicated UTIs. Analysis of four studies showed a higher rates of effectiveness for uncomplicated UTI in the treatment with relinqing plus antibiotics than those of antibiotics alone [RR and 95%CI:1.15 (1.08-1.23), P<0.001]. Analysis of two studies showed a higher rates of bacterial clearance for uncomplicated UTI in the treatment with relinqing plus antibiotics than those of antibiotics alone [RR and 95% CI: 4.04 (1.78-9.16)]. Conclusion Data from five small studies suggest that relinqing as an independent intervention or in conjunction with antibiotics may be beneficial for treating uncomplicated UTIs. However, the small number and poor quality of the included studies meant that it is not possible to formulate robust conclusion on the use of relinqing for uncomplicated UTI either alone or as an adjunct to antibiotics.

Objective:To observe the analgesic effect of acupuncture and to explore its central analgesic mechanism in rheumatoid arthritis rabbits.Methods:A total of 60 flap-eared white rabbits were randomly assigned into a normal control group (n=6),a model group (n=6),a body-acupuncture group (n=24),and a buccal acupuncture group (n=24).The later 2 groups were further randomly assigned into 0,0.5,1,and 2 h subgroups,with 6 cases in each group.The rheumatoid arthritis model was established by induction of eggalbumin.In the body acupuncture group,bilateral Xiyan and Zusanli were punctured for 15 s while in the buccal acupuncture group,acupuncture was applied to Xi for 15 s,with the needle retaining for 30 min.The pain threshold was detected with PL-200,taking struggle movements of rabbits as a measurement index,response latency from irradiation to struggling movements as the rabbit's pain threshold.The contents of β-endorplhin (β-EP) and cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8) in cerebrospinal fluid were examined by radioimmunoassay.Results:Compared with the control group,pain threshold and CCK-8 levels decreased significantly (P＜0.01) and the concentration of β-EP significantly increased (P＜0.05) in the model group.The pain threshold in the body-acupuncture group and the buccal acupuncture group at 0 and 1 h (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01) increased significantly,while the β-EP and CCK-8 contents in the bodyacupuncture group and the buccal acupuncture group were significantly higher than those in the model group (P＜0.01 or P＜0.05).Both β-EP and CCK-8 contents in the buccal acupuncture group at 0 h were significantly higher than those in the body-acupuncture group (P＜0.05).Conclusion:The analgesic effect of buccal acupuncture is superior to that of body-acupuncture.Both buccal acupuncture and body-acupuncture can effectively raise the pain threshold in acute arthritis rabbits,which is closely associated with their effects in the up-regulation of β-EP and CCK-8 contents in cerebrospinal fluid.

Objective To investigate the role of autophagy in podocyte damage,and the intracellular mechanism of autophagy activation through passive Heymann nephritis (PHN) animal model.Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=40) were studied on day 0,2,4,7,and 21 after induction of PHN by injection of anti-Fx1A.Podocyte morphology and autophagosomes were observed by transmission electron microscopy.Podocyte numerical density was estimated by Weibel-Gomez =method.Cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay and caspase-3 immunohistochemical staining.Expressions of autophagy markers and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-associated proteins were analyzed by Western blotting.Results (1) In PHN rats,immunohistochemical staining showed that C5b-9 deposited along glomerular basement membrane on day 4 to day 21.Small subepithelial electron -dense deposits and a part of foot process fusion were detected in the glomerulus of PHN rats on day 4 by transmission electron microscope,and podocyte damage was aggravated on day 21.Furthermore,compared with control,the urinary protein levels of PHN rats began to increase on day 3,and reached the top on day 21 [(50.6±6.0) mg/24 h].(2) The number of podocytes significantly decreased in PHN rats compared with control group on day 21(P ＜ 0.05).(3) In PHN rats,apoptotic podocytes were found by caspase-3 immunohistochemical staining and TUNEL assay on day 21.(4) The expression of autophagy marker LC3 Ⅱ was markedly increased on day 7 and 21,but down-regulated on day 21 compared with day 7.Moreover,accumulated autophagosomes in podocytes were detected on day 7 and 21 by transmission electron microscope.(5) The level of GRP78 was significantly increased on day 2 and 7 but reduced to baseline on day 21.At the same time,the downstream pathways (ATF6α,p-PERK and p-JNK) of unfolded protein response were also up-regulated in the early process of PHN and down-regulated later.Conclusions Autophagy is an important way to protect against immunemediated podocyte injury in membranous nephropathy.Autophagy activation is mainly related to endoplasmic reticulum stress induced by complement attack.This provides an important basis for a thorough understanding of the role of autophagy in the process of podocyte damage and the pathogenesis of membranous nephropathy.

AIM:In podocytes , autophagy occurs at a high basal level and dysregulated autophagy is associa -ted with a variety of podocytopathies .This paper is to investigate the role of autophagy in sublytic C 5b-9-induced podocyte injury.METHODS: Sublytic complement C5b-9 stimulation was used as an in vitro model.Autophagosomes were con-firmed using monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining.Immunoblotting was used to measure the change of autophagy-related markers.Cellular morphological changes were observed by Wright-Giemsa staining.Immunofluorescence staining and con-focal microscopy were used to detect the expression and distribution of nephrin .The cell viability was assessed by methylth-iazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay.The cell apoptosis was assessed by Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/PI staining.RE-SULTS:For ensuring sublytic complement injury , the maximal amounts of anti-podocyte antiserum and 160 ×-diluted nor-mal human serum were used without inducing cell lysis (defined as >5%LDH release).Sublytic C5b-9 promoted autoph-agy of podocytes in vitro.The proautophagic effect of sublytic C 5b-9 manifested in the form of accumulated MDC-labeled vesicles and enhanced the expression of LC 3-Ⅱ.Autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenosine (3-MA) promoted sublytic C5b-9-induced podocyte morphological abnormalities .Compared with the sublytic C5b-9-injured podocytes, 3-MA exposure further decreased the expression of nephrin .3-MA enhanced sublytic C5b-9-induced podocyte apoptosis .CONCLUSION: Sub-lytic C5b-9 attack induces autophagy , which may play a protective role against complement-mediated podocyte injury .

AIM: To determine the effect of rapamycin on the progression of passive Heymann nephritis (PHN), and whether autophagy is involved in this process .METHODS:Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=24) were ran-domly divided into 3 groups:control group , PHN group and rapamycin treatment group .The rat PHN model was induced by injection of anti-Fx1A serum through penile vein , and all rats were sacrificed on day 21.Automatic biochemical analyzer was used to detect 24 h urine protein , blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine .Renal damage was observed through per-iodic acid-silver methenamine staining .The number of podocyte was estimated by Weibel-Gomez method .The glomerular deposition of C5b-9, the expression of caspase-3 and expression of autophagy marker LC 3 in glomeruli were examined by immunofluorescence staining , immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting , respectively.RESULTS: Rapamycin significantly reduced proteinuria in the PHN rats (P<0.05), while the renal functions in 3 groups were normal, without significant difference .Although rapamycin limited weight gain in the rats , the health of the rats during drug treatment was not affected .Rapamycin retarded glomerular basement membrane thickening in the PHN rats .Rapamycin significantly re-duced the podocyte deletion by preventing podocyte apoptosis .Rapamycin enhanced the level of autophagy of glomerular in-herent cells .CONCLUSION:In the disease process of PHN , appropriate strength of autophagy plays a protective role . Rapamycin appropriately enhances autophagy and prevents podocyte apoptosis , thus reducing nephropathy and proteinuria . This may be one of the important mechanisms of rapamycin to slow down the progress of PHN .

Objective To investigate the effect and the mechanism of the GITR-antibody(glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor-ligand antibody) on the mouse leukemia model induced by L615.Methods The mouse leukemia models induced by L615 cells were divided into 4 groups: negative controls(peritoneal injection of normal saline,0.2 ml/d),GITR group(GITR,100,infused through caudal vein 2 d before leukemic lymphocytes inoculation,again at dose of 50 ?g/each mouse after inoculation),Cyclophosphamide group(200 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1),intraperitoneal injection from the 3~(rd) day after inoculation for 3 d),GITR+ Cyclophosphamide group(100 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1) Cyclophosphamide instead).The survival time,leukocyte counting in the peripheal blood,liver and spleen index were calculated and the pathological examination of liver,spleen were performed.Results GITR-ligand could prolong the survival time of mouse leukemia model,lead the necrosis and apoptosis of leukemic cells in bone marrow,decrease the liver and spleen index,decrease and relieve the leukocyte increase of peripheal blood and the irregular swelling of liver and spleen.Conclusion Through immunoregulation,GITR-antibody can inhibit the L615 leukemic cells effectively,therefore inhibit the progress of leukemia to some extent.

Objective To observe the effect of fenofibrate intervention on high-fructose-feeding-induced liver steatosis in rats and explore the possible mechanism. Methods Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group ,high fructose group and fenofibrate group[fenofibrate intervention started after 8 weeks of high fructose feeding ,30 mg/(kg · d)]. Rats were sacrificed after 12-week of high fructose feeding. Serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),total cholesterol(TC),free triglyceride(TG)and liver TG content were determined;protein levels of fatty acid synthase(FAS),endoplasmic reticulum stress mark-er Bip and autophagy markers such as Atg7,Beclin1,LC3 and the related pathway mTOR in liver tissues were de-tected. Results Compared with those in control group and fenofibrate group,serum AST,serum total cholesterol, blood free TG and hepatic TG were significantly increased in high-fructose group(P < 0.01). The protein expres-sion of Fas,Bip and mTOR were significantly increased in high-fructose group compared with those in control group and fenofibrate group;the protein expression of Atg7,beclin1 and LC3 were significantly decreased in high-fructose group compared with those in control group and fenofibrate group. Conclusions Long-term high-fructose-feeding induces fatty liver and liver cell injury ,and may affect ERS and autophagy. High-fructose-feeding-in-duced fatty liver may be improved by fenofibrate and its underlying mechanism might be associated with Fas,ERS and autophagy in liver.

Objective To explore how the antibody of glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor (GITR) exerts inhibitory effect on the L615 leukemia cells by strengthening the activation of the NK cells. Methods The 24 established L615 leukemia mice were equally and randomly divided into 4 experimental groups according to different drugs given intraperitoneally, groupⅠ (normal saline), Ⅱ (GITR), Ⅲ (cyclophosphamide), and Ⅳ (GITR +cyclophosphamide).Then the NK cells were extracted from the spleen of mice as effective cells, and L615 leukemia cells served as the target cells. The changes of the NK cells’killing activation was observed in vivo. The mRNA levels of 3 proteins tightly related to the NK cells’activation Perforin, IFN-? and Fas mRNAs were detected with RT-PCR. Results The GITR-antibody enhanced the killing activity of the NK cells obviously, with the expressions of the 3 proteins increasing obviously. Conclusion By regulation of the Treg cells, the GITR-antibody can inhibit the L615 leukemia cells through enhancing the NK cells' killing activity.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of warming and unblocking acupuncture in treating scapulocostal syndrome.Method Eighty patients with scapulocostal syndrome meeting the inclusion criteria were allocated by simple randomization to warming and unblocking acupuncture and conventional acupuncturegroups, 40 cases each.The warming and unblocking acupuncture group received warming and unblocking acupuncture at points Tianzong(SI11), Jianjing(GB21)and Dazhui(GV14)on the affected side and affected chest Huatuo jiaji(Ex-B2)points and uniform reinforcing-reducing acupuncture at points Quchi(LI11), Hegu(LI4)and Waiguan(TE5).The conventional acupuncture group received uniform reinforcing-reducing acupuncture at the same points as those in the warming and unblocking acupuncture group after arrival of qi.Both groupswere treated once every other day, 10 days as a course, for a total of one course.Pain severity was assessed using the Pain Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) in the two groups of patients before and after treatment.Theclinical therapeutic effects were evaluated by follow-up at one month after the completion of treatment.Result The total efficacy rate was 95.0% (38/40) in the warming andunblocking acupuncture group and 80.0% (32/40) in the conventional acupuncture group; there was a statistically significant difference (P<0.05).The PainVisual Analogue Scale(VAS) score was significantly lower in the two groups of patients after treatment than before treatment; there was a statistically significant difference (P<0.05).The VAS score was decreased more in the warming and unblocking acupuncture group after treatment and at the follow-up one month after the completion of treatment (P<0.05).Conclusion Warming and unblocking acupuncture has clinically a better therapeutic effect onscapulocostal syndrome.