Based on the structure and function of acupoint and in association of the definition and principle of sensor, the acupoint is the sensitive element, being sensitive to the physical stimulation with acupuncture and moxibustion and sensitively responded to the disorders; the acupoint is the sensing element, transforming the changes of the acupoint information via the complicated internet conduction, integration and regulation, so as to generate the effects on organic body; the acupoint is the conversion element, transforming every irritation into the bioelectric signal or optical signal so that the organic body could recognize it. Therefore, the acupoint is regarded as the sensor of information in the organic body.
Acupuncture Points ; Electrophysiological Phenomena ; Humans ; Meridians

Animals ; Berberine/pharmacology* ; Blood Glucose ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/drug therapy* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of chemoembolization with adriamycin alginate-chitosan microcapsules in the treatment of VX2 carcinoma in the extremity of the rabbit.

METHODSTwenty-four New Zealand white rabbits transplanted with VX2 carcinoma cells into the muscle tissue of the lower right thigh were divided into four groups namely groups A, B, C and D, and received regional infusion from femoral artery. Each group consisted of six rabbits: a group given natural saline (Group A), a group given adriamycin (Group B), a group given blank alginate-chitosan microcapsules (Group C) and a group given adriamycin alginate-chitosan microcapsules (Group D). Three days after treatment, all groups were examined by histology and immunohistochemical detection (TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling technique, TUNEL; proliferating cell nuclear antigen, PCNA).

RESULTSThe blood vessels of the tumor were almost embolized by the microcapsules. Extensive necrosis, high level of positive cells in TUNEL (60.85% +/- 5.21%) and low level in PCNA detection with in the tumors were observed in Group D.

CONCLUSIONAdriamycin alginate-chitosan microcapsules can potentially play roles in two respects, 1 to serve as embolizing agents, and 2 to serve as drug delivery vehicles for local release. Chemoembolization with microparticals is an effective treatment of malignant osseous and soft tissue sarcomas in an experimental model.

Alginates ; administration & dosage ; Animals ; Capsules ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Chitin ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Chitosan ; Disease Models, Animal ; Doxorubicin ; administration & dosage ; Glucuronic Acid ; administration & dosage ; Hexuronic Acids ; administration & dosage ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Neoplasms, Experimental ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; analysis ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo summarize the workflow, strategy and experience of prenatal genetic test for deafness based on the 6-year clinical practice.

METHODSThere were 213 families who received prenatal test from 2005 to 2011. Among the 213 families, 205 families had had one deaf child, including 204 couples with normal hearing and one couple of the deaf husband and normal wife, 8 families including 6 couples with normal hearing and 2 deaf couples, had no child before test. Genomic and mitochondrial DNA of each subject was extracted from whole blood. The etiology and recurrent risks in 212 families were confirmed by means of the genetic test of GJB2, SLC26A4 and mtDNA 12sRNA, but one family carried POU3F4 c.647G > A heterozygous mutation causing X-linked hereditary hearing impairment confirmed by pedigree study. The prenatal test was carried out during the pregnancy of all mothers from 11 to 30 weeks, and the following genetic information and counseling were supplied based on the results.

RESULTSThe recurrent risk was 25% in 209 families, including 204 families with one deaf child and 5 families without child, among which all couples were GJB2 or SLC26A4 mutation carriers and deaf children were caused by homozygous or compound GJB2/SLC26A4 mutations; The recurrent risk was 50% in 3 families, the father and his child in one family had compound SLC26A4 mutations and the mother with heterozygous SLC26A4 mutation, the wife had POU3F4 c.647G > A heterozygous mutation in another one family, and the husband with compound SLC26A4 mutations and the wife with mtDNA A1555G mutation and heterozygous SLC26A4 mutation simultaneously happened in the rest one family; The recurrent risk was 100% in one family of the deaf couple who were both found to carry homozygous or compound GJB2 mutations, and the deaf wife got pregnant by artificial insemination with the sperm from the local Human Sperm Bank. 226 times of prenatal test were applied in all 213 families that 11 families of them received prenatal test twice, and one family received three times. 46 times of prenatal testing showed that the fetuses carried parental mutations simultaneously or the same mutations with probands; while 180 times of prenatal test showed that the fetuses carried only one parental mutation or did not carry any mutation from parents. The following visit showed that all of these 180 families had given birth to babies who were all revealed to have normal hearing by new born hearing screening test.

CONCLUSIONSPrenatal diagnosis for deafness assisted by genetic test can provide efficient information about offspring's hearing condition, and the normative workflow and precise strategy highly guarantee the safe and favorable implementation of prenatal diagnosis.

Connexins ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; Deafness ; diagnosis ; genetics ; prevention & control ; Female ; Genetic Testing ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Infant ; Pedigree ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis

OBJECTIVEAnalyzed the molecular pathogenesis of probands by means of genetic test and assisted the local Family Planning Institute by providing prenatal genetic counseling and instruction for deaf families who eager to have more baby.

METHODSTotal of forty-three deaf families were recruited by two institutes for family planning from Guangzhou and Weifang. Forty-two families had one deaf child with normal hearing parents. One family was that parents and their child were all deaf. Genetic testing of GJB2, SLC26A4 and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) 12SrRNA were firstly performed in probands and their parents, following medical history, physical examination, auditory test and CT scan of temporal bone were completed. And then the genetic information and instruction were provided to each deaf family.

RESULTSFifteen of these 43 families had positive results of genetic test. In fifteen families, one family was confirmed that the parents and their child all carried homozygous GJB2 mutations and the recurrence risk was 100%. Twelve families were confirmed that the probands carried homozygous/compound GJB2 or SLC26A4 mutations while their parents were GJB2 or SLC26A4 carriers, and the recurrence risk was 25%. One family was confirmed that the proband, diagnosed with enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome (EVAS) by CT scan, carried heterozygous SLC26A4 mutation from the mother, and the recurrence risk was still 25% based on the hereditary pattern of EVAS although another SLC26A4 mutation from the father was not found. One family was confirmed that the proband carried a heterozygous GJB2 mutation from the mother and the possibility to be GJB2 carrier for offsprings was 50%. The rest 28 families were that all probands and their parents did not carry GJB2, SLC26A4 and mtDNA 12SrRNA pathological mutation.

CONCLUSIONSGenetic testing can provide more accurate and useful prenatal genetic counseling and instruction to deaf families. Meanwhile, it is an ideal way to develop a cooperative relationship with the institute for family planning.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Connexin 26 ; Connexins ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Counseling ; Hearing Loss ; genetics ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effect of one stage anterior and posterior fusion and posterior fixation for the treatment of thoracic and lumbar spinal tuberculosis.

METHODSFrom March 2003 to December 2006, one stage anterior and posterior fusion and posterior fixation were performed to treat 23 patients who suffered thoracic and lumbar spinal tuberculosis. There were 15 males and 8 females with an average of 37.6 years (17-61 years). 4 cases' tuberculose focus were in thoracic vertebra, 8 cases in thoracolumbar, 11 cases in lumbar.

RESULTSThe average follow up period was 28.7 months (9-40 months). The symptoms of all patients had primarily relieved and the patients can ambulate at 2-3 weeks after treatment. At the 6th after operation, the X-ray showed interbody fusion. Frankel grading of 16 patients with incomplete paraplegia were improved averagely 1.62 grades. The major complications including 2 cases of temporary sinus formation, 1 case of fixtor breaking and 1 case of recurring (owing to an inadequate postoperative chemotherapy).

CONCLUSIONOne stage anterior and posterior fusion and posterior fixation can effectually resect focus, rebuild stability of spine, promote interbody fusion and recovery of incomplete paraplegia in treating thoracic and lumbar spinal tuberculosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; Spinal Fusion ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Tuberculosis, Spinal ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze components of volatile oil from the herb of Pimpinella candolleana.

METHODThe components of volatile oil were investigated by SPME-GC-MS.

RESULTSixty-five compounds were identified which accounted for 92. 17% of total volatile oil.

CONCLUSIONThe main constituents in the essential oil were alpha-zingiberene (24.82%), pregeijerene (16.27%), beta-bisabolene (4. 82%), 2-isopropyl-5-methyl-9-methylene-bicyclo [ 4. 4. 0] dec-l-ene (4.03%), beta-sesquiphellandrene (3.98%), trans-beta-farnesene (3.68%), ar-curcumene (3.54%).

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Hydrocarbons, Cyclic ; analysis ; Oils, Volatile ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Pimpinella ; chemistry ; Plant Oils ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Sesquiterpenes ; analysis ; Solid Phase Microextraction ; methods

FEM combined with modern computer technology is a mathematical method for stress analysis. It has gradually become a significant experimental tool to explore the functions of biomechanically simulated human body structure and mechanism of craniocerebral injuries. This paper reviewed the features and biomechanical materials of the FEM human head models, materials assignment and their applications in blunt injury, fall, traffic accident. It also explore their merits and values in forensic head injury cases.
Accidents, Traffic ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Computer Simulation ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Finite Element Analysis ; Forensic Pathology ; Head/physiopathology* ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional/methods* ; Models, Anatomic ; Models, Biological ; Skull Fractures/physiopathology*

OBJECTIVE: To establish a diagnostic model for diffuse axonal injury (DAI) by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). To screen the proteins or peptides associated with DAI for providing the biomarkers with theoretic foundation. METHODS: Fifteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into DAI group (n = 10) and control group (n = 5). The protein or peptide expression profiles of rat brain stem were detected by MALDI-TOF-MS. ClinProTools 2.2 software was used to find specific peaks, and a diagnostic model was established by the genetic algorithm. RESULTS: There were significant differences in 61 peaks of DAI group (P < 0.05), 9 peaks were down-regulated and 52 up-regulated. The diagnostic model was established based on 5 different peaks. The specificity and sensitivity of cross validation was 96.14% and 95.98%; while the specificity and sensitivity of blind validation showed was 73.33% and 70.00%, respectively. CONCLUSION A specific and sensitive diagnostic model of DAI can be established by MALDI-TOF-MS to provide a potential value for determining DAI in forensic practice.
Animals ; Biomarkers ; Brain Stem/metabolism* ; Diffuse Axonal Injury/diagnosis* ; Down-Regulation ; Male ; Peptides/blood* ; Proteomics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Software ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization/methods* ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo explore influence factors of dietary supplement used in population aged above 45 years in Beijing.

METHODSUtilizing the data of the survey of dietary supplement (DS) used in Beijing in 2006 was to investigate the influence factors by using multi-factorial logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSAll 2487 samples were included in the analysis. Sex, age, average income of each month for each member of the family, experiences of deficiency of nutrition, attitude to nutrition knowledge, attitude to the need of DS and city-or-rural resident had shown effects on DS using. The percentage of using DS in female was higher than that in male being 19.3% and 11.8% respectively. The percentage grew up as the age became older. The same trend appeared as the economic-status going up, but not as education level change. Use of DS was greater in urban population (16.9%) than in rural population (14.6%). The percentage of using DS in people who had or just been diagnosed as malnutrition/deficiency disease or chronic disease, or those who thought themselves having got these diseases only by their own feeling were higher than those did not.

CONCLUSIONPeople the female, the elder, or those having higher income, having experiences of deficiency of nutrition, are more interested in nutrition knowledge, and more positive in need of DS and those living in rural should be the target population of nutrition education for DS use.

Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; Dietary Supplements ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutrition Surveys ; Sex Factors