Afferent Pathways ; Animals ; Female ; Nerve Block ; Olfactory Bulb ; metabolism ; Parvalbumins ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

[Objective] To observe the antitussive and antiasthmatic actions of Nervilia fordii (Hance) Schitr. (NF). [Methods] NIH mice were randomized into 8 groups: 3 NF water-extract groups and 3 NF ethanol-extract groups in high, moderate and low doses (19.2, 9.6 and 4.8 g?kg-1?d-1 respectively), positive control group (codeine phosphate 50 mg?kg-1?d-1 in the antitussive experiment and theocin 0.1g?kg-1?d-1 in the antiasthmatic experiment) and model group. Mice cough models induced by ultrasonic spray of ammonium hydroxide and guinea pigs asthma models induced by ultrasonic spray of histamine-acetylcholine mixture were adopted to observe the antitussive and antiasthmatic actions of NF. [Results] Water-extract and ethanol-extract of NF in three doses decreased the cough frequency in mice, and ethanol-extract of NF in three doses prolonged the cough latent period (P

AIM: To investigate the effect of deafferentation on the expression level of calretinin (CR) in adult Sprague Dawley rat olfactory bulb (OB). METHODS: Adult Sprague Dawley rats were given a single intranasal irrigation with ZnSO_4. A specific period (10, 20, 30 and 60 days, respectively) after the treatment, immunoreactivities of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and calretinin of OB were examined by using immunohistochemistry. Down-regulation of TH expression level was regarded as a mark of deafferentation. RESULTS: 10, 20, 30 and 60 days after ZnSO_4 treatment, staining intensity and density of TH-immunoreactive cells of OB significantly reduced and the degree of reduction was correlated with the time of treatment before 30 days, but the result of 60 d was similar to that of 30 d. There was no obvious change in the density of CR-immunopositive cells after the same treatment. CONCLUSION: Expression of CR in adult rat OB was not affected by deafferentation.

We are reporting in this article some analyzed data obtained from inspection and related information on current situations medical devices in use. Some ideas and suggestions are also proposed here on how to systematically and legally inspecting and monitoring medical devices in use.
Equipment Safety ; Materials Management, Hospital

Fed-batch cultures of recombinant Rchia pastoris were conducted for production of angiostatin. The whole fermentation included a growth phase on glycerol and an expression phase on methanol. When ammonium hydroxide solution was used to adjust pH, the cell growth during the expression phase was inhibited and the highest angiostatin concentration was 9.08 mg/L. Shake-flask cultures were carried out in media containing different quantities of ammonia. The results showed that ammonia had an obvious inhibition effect on the cell growth during the expression phase. Therefore KOH solution was used to adjust pH, and during the expression phase cells were able to grow and the highest angiostatin concentration reached 20 mg/L.

OBJECTIVETo observe clinical therapeutic effects of acupuncture combined with medication in restoration of gastrointestinal functions for postoperative patients with gastric cancer.

METHODSNinety patients undergoing radical surgeries for gastric cancer were randomly, according to the sequence of their operations, divided into three groups: a control group treated conventionally after their surgeries (group CONT, 30 cases), a Chinese medicine group treated by Simo Decoction administered by way of a nutrient canal in addition to the conventional treatment (group CM, 30 cases), and an acupuncture plus Chinese medicine group treated by warming needling in addition to those given in the Chinese medicine group (group ACUP+CM, 30 cases). Therapeutic effects were estimated 10 days after their operations.

RESULTSThe time for restoration of gastrointestinal functions was obviously shortened, and the problems of poor appetite and difficulty in defecation were more markedly improved in group ACUP+CM than those in both group CONT and group CM (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Ten days after operations, the number of patients with normal lymphocytes and normal percentage rate of lymphocytes to neutrophile granulocytes was obviously more in group ACUP+CM than those in both group CONT and group CM (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture combined with Chinese medicine is favorable in accelerating early air exhaustion and defecation, improving clinical symptoms, as well as in bi-directional regulating peripheral white blood cells.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Care ; methods ; Recovery of Function ; Stomach Neoplasms ; physiopathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics of cardiac involvement in children with mitochondriopathies.Methods The clinical data of 23 children with mitochondriopathies were reviewed.The changes of electrocardiography,echocardiography and heart enzymes were analyzed.Results In 15 cases of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy,lactic acidosis,and stroke-like episode(MELAS syndrome),electrocardiography was performed on 9 cases,6 of them showed abnormal electrocardiographic findings,including right bundle branch block,ST-T change,Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome,et al.On echocardiographic examination in 9 MELAS syndrome ca-ses,only 1 case showed hypertrophy cardiomyopathy.Six cases had increased plasma creatine kinaseMB(CK-MB) mass and only one of 12 MELAS syndrome cases had increased cardiac troponin I(cTnI) level.In 8 cases of subacute necrotizing encephalomyopathy(Leigh syndrome),electrocardiography was performed on 5 cases,4 of them showed abnormal electrocardiographic findings,including sinus tachycardia,ST-T change and low voltage.Two cases showed normal electrocardiography.Three out of 6 cases with Leigh syndrome showed increased plasma CK-MB mass.The molecular genetic examinations were performed in 13 cases of MELAS syndrome and 6 cases of Leigh syndrome.The mitochondrial DNA nt 3243 A→G mutation was found in white blood cells of 9 MELAS syndrome cases,the mutation rate being 37%-60%.The mitochondrial DNA nt 8993 T→C mutation was found in white blood cells of 2 Leigh syndrome cases.Conclusion In children with mitochondriopathies,myocardiac involvement is comparatively common,and even cardiomyopathy can occur.

OBJECTIVETo verify the clinical therapeutic effect of warming needle moxibustion on improvement of the gastrointestinal and immune function in patients with postoperation of colorectal cancer.

METHODSOne hundred and five patients with postoperation of colorectal cancer were randomly divided into an acupuncture and moxibustion group, a Chinese medicine group and a routine treatment group, 35 cases in each group. They were all treated with gastrointestinal decompression and fluid replacement after operation. The acupuncture and moxibustion group was also treated with warming needle moxibustion on the 1st day after operation, and Zusanli (ST 36), Shangjuxu (ST 37) and Xiajuxu (ST 39) etc. were selected, once a day for 10 days, and the Chinese medicine group with Simo Decoction oral solution, three times daily for 10 days. The gastrointestinal function, peripheral blood components and changes of T lymphocyte and NK cells in postoperative patients were observed.

RESULTSThe time of the first bowel sound, exhaust and defecation in the acupuncture and moxibustion group were all shorter than those in the Chinese medicine group and the routine treatment group (P<0.05, P<0.01). On the 10th day after operation, the percentages distribution of lymphocyte and neutrophil in the acupuncture and moxibustion group were better than those in the Chinese medicine group and the routine treatment group (all P<0.05). The acupuncture and moxibustion group was also superior to the Chinese medicine group and the routine treatment group in improving the subgroup of T lymphocyte, NK cells and the digestive system symptoms (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONWarming needle moxibustion has a good therapeutic effect on gastrointestinal function and can regulate bidirectionally peripheral blood lymphocyte and neutrophile granulocyte and improve the T lymphocyte subgroup and NK cells so as to promote the recovery of immune function in patients with colorectal cancer after operation.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; immunology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Immune System ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Postoperative Period ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo clarify the differential expression of the genes related to the lipid metabolism in the early stage of atherosclerosis in the young LDLR-/- mice of different ages.

METHODSA RT-PCR assay was used to analyse the gene expression patterns in the livers of LDLR-/- mice and wild type (WT) mice from 14 to 90 days. The characteristics of early lipid deposition in intima were evaluated using biochemical and pathological techniques.

RESULTSIn LDLR-/- mice, when compared to WT mice, the mRNA level of the apolipoprotein A IV (apoA IV), fatty acid translocase (Fat/CD36) and carnitine palmitoyl transferase I (CPT I) changed prominently at the age of 14-days (P < 0.05). At 30 days, the mRNA level of apolipoprotein A I (apoA I) was up regulated, but apolipoprotein F (apoF), CD36 and CPT I were down regulated (P < 0.05). At 60 days, the mRNA levels of apoA I, CPT I and liver X receptor alpha (LXRalpha) were up regulated, but apoA IV was down regulated (P < 0.05). At 90 days, the level of the apoA I was higher, but the expression of the apoA IV, apoF and acyl-coenzymeA oxidase 1 (ACOX1) were down regulated (P < 0.05), whereas the expression of apolipoprotein A V (apoA V), apolipoprotein E (apoE), peroxidase proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) and angiopoietin-like protein 3 (angptl 3) had no significant changes (P > 0.05). The serum levels of TC (P < 0.05), TG (P < 0.05) and LDLC (P < 0.05) in LDLR-/- mice were significantly higher than those in wild type mice with the same age.

CONCLUSIONSThe mRNA levels of the apoA I, apoA IV, apoF, FAT/CD36, CPT I, ACOX1 and LXRalpha of the LDLR-/- mice were significantly changed compared to the WT mice. The genes may be of some relevance to the complicated lipid metabolism network, and have effect in the early stage of atherogenesis.

Animals ; Apolipoprotein A-I ; genetics ; metabolism ; Apolipoproteins A ; genetics ; metabolism ; Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Lipid Metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; Liver X Receptors ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Orphan Nuclear Receptors ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Receptors, LDL ; deficiency

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between the expression characteristics of lipid metabolism-related genes in the liver and early atherosclerotic lesions in apolipoprotein E and low density lipoprotein receptor gene double knockout (apoE(-/-)/LDLR(-/-)) mice.

METHODSRT-PCR was used to detect the differential expression of lipid metabolism-related genes in the liver of apoE(-/-)/LDLR(-/-) and wild type (WT) mice. Serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level as well as aortic morphology were also analyzed.

RESULTSAmong the 11 lipid metabolism-related genes, apolipoprotein B100 (apoB100) mRNA levels were significantly higher in apoE(-/-)/LDLR(-/-)mice compared with WT mice. At 14 days, 1, 2 and 3 months of age, the level of mRNA expression were 1.55, 1.47, 1.50 and 2.42 folds of those of the age matched WT mice respectively. The fatty acid transporter (FAT/CD36) mRNA expression levels were higher in 14-day and 3-month old mice at 1.30 and 1.35 folds of those of the age matched WT mice, respectively. Apolipoprotein A IV (apoA IV) and Apolipoprotein AV (apoAV) mRNA levels were significantly down-regulated (0.89 fold decrease in 14-day, and 0.90 folds decrease in 3-month, respectively). The mRNA expression levels of apolipoprotein AI (apo AI), apolipoprotein F (apo F), peroxidase proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-alpha), liver X receptor alpha (LXRalpha), angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3), acyl-coenzymeA oxidase 1 (ACOX1) and carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 (CPT1) had no significant changes. Serum TC, TG and LDL-C were higher than those of age matched WT mice at 7, 2 and 30 folds, respectively. Furthermore, apoE(-/-)/LDLR(-/-) mice demonstrated typical early atherosclerotic lesions at sinus and root regions of aorta in an age dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONAlterations of the expression of lipid metabolism-related genes in liver play important roles in the development of AS in the apoE(-/-)/LDLR(-/-) mice at early ages.

Animals ; Aorta ; pathology ; Apolipoprotein A-V ; Apolipoprotein B-100 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Apolipoproteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Apolipoproteins A ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Apolipoproteins E ; deficiency ; Atherosclerosis ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; CD36 Antigens ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Lipid Metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Receptors, LDL ; deficiency