OBJECTIVETo observe the intervention effect of acupuncture on early onset of selec- tive serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in treating depressive disorder, and to study its effect on ser- um 5-HT and unbalanced inflammatory cytokines secreted by TH1/TH2.

METHODSTotally 90 patients with depressive disorder were randomly assigned to the drug control group (as the control group, 45 cases) and the acupuncture combined drug treatment group (as the treatment group, 45 cases). All patients were treated for 4 consecutive weeks. Another 45 healthy subjects were recruited as a healthy control group. The effect of acupuncture on early onset of SSRls in treating acute phase depressive disorder pa- tients was evaluated by HAMD score in the control group and the treatment group before treatment,and at weekends of the 1st, 2nd, and 4th week after treatment. Besides, their serum levels of 5-HT, IL-1β and IL-6 (secreted by TH1), and IL-4 and IL-10 (secreted by TH2) were detected before treatment and after treatment at the weekend of the 4th week.

RESULTSCompared with the healthy control group,serum lev- els of 5-HT, IL-4, and IL-10 decreased in the two drug-treated groups before treatment (P < 0.01); serum levels of IL-1β and IL-6 increased (P <0.01). Compared with before treatment in the same group, HAMD score decreased in the control group at weekends of the 2nd and the 4th week after treatment (P < 0.01); HAMD scores decreased in the treatment group at weekends of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd,and 4th week after treatment (P < 0.01); serum levels of 5-HT, IL-4, and IL-10 increased,serum levels of IL-1β and IL- 6 decreased in the two drug-treated groups after treatment (all P < 0.01). Compared with the control group at the same time point,HAMD scores decreased in the treatment group at weekends of the 1st, 2nd,3rd,and 4th week after treatment (P < 0.01),serum levels of 5-HT, IL-4, and IL-10 increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), serum levels of IL-6 decreased (P < 0. 01).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture could accelerate early onset of SSRIs in treating acute phase depressive disorder, and effectively regulate serum 5-HT levels and inflammatory cytokines secreted by TH1/TH2.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Cytokines ; Depressive Disorder ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-1beta ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-6 ; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors ; therapeutic use

The feasibility of simultaneously loading both liposoluble and water-soluble components of Salvia miltiorrhiza in emulsion was discussed, in order to provide new ideas in comprehensive application of effective components in S. miltiorrhiza in terms of technology of pharmaceutics. With tanshinone II (A) and salvianolic acid B as raw materials, soybean phospholipid and poloxamer 188 as emulsifiers, and glycerin as isoosmotic regulator, the central composite design-response surface method was employed to optimize the prescription. The coarse emulsion was prepared with the high-speed shearing method and then homogenized in the high pressure homogenizer. The biphasic drug-loading intravenous emulsion was prepared to investigate its pharmaceutical properties and stability. The prepared emulsion is orange-yellow, with the average diameter of 241 nm and Zeta potential of -35.3 mV. Specifically, the drug loading capacity of tanshinone II (A) and salvianolic acid B were 0.5 g x L(-1) and 1 g x L(-1), respectively, with a good stability among long-term retention samples. According to the results, the prepared emulsion could load liposoluble tanshinone II (A) and water-soluble salvianolic acid B simultaneously, which lays a pharmaceutical foundation for giving full play to the efficacy of S. miltiorrhiza.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; instrumentation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Emulsions ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the roles of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in host defense against Streptococcus pneumoniae infection in the middle ear.

METHODSWild-type (WT) C57BL/6J, TLR2-deficient (TLR2(-/-)) and TLR4-deficient (TLR4(-/-)) mice were inoculated with Streptococcus pneumoniae (1 × 10(6)CFU) through the tympanic membrane. All animals were tested the mouse ABR thresholds and tympanometry measurement before, and 1 day, 3 days and 7 days following pneumococcal challenge. Blood bacterial titer were determined by plating 50 µl volumes of 10-fold diluted blood. Histological analysis of middle ear and inner ear were performed by fixation, decalcification, embedded section, and counterstained with hematoxylin/eosin and toluidine blue staining. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was applied to determine mRNA accumulation of TLR2 and TLR4 related genes.

RESULTSForty of 68 TLR2(-/-) mice and twenty-one of 59 TLR4(-/-) mice showed bacteremia and died within 3 days after the pneumococcal challenge, however, only 9 of 52 WT mice died. The survive mice were shown have more severe hearing loss in the TLR2(-/-) and TLR4(-/-) mice than in the WT mice, indicated by ABR thresholds, at 3 or 7 days postinoculation. The histological pathology was characterized by effusion and tissue damage in the middle ear, and in the TLR2(-/-) and TLR4(-/-) mice, the outcome of infection became more severe at 7 days. At both 3 and 7 days after challenge, the TLR2(-/-) mice had higher blood bacterial titers than WT mice (P < 0.05). Temporal bone histopathologic change indicated that 3 days after the pneumococcal challenge, the TLR2(-/-) and TLR4(-/-) mice showed effusion and tissue damage in the middle ear, and the infection became more severe at 7 days postinoculation. TLR2(-/-) mice showed severe inflammatory cell infiltration in the cochlear, the organ of Corti showed the outer hair cells damage, the tectorial membrane swelling, degeneration of the stria vascularis, and severe loss of spiral ganglion cells; However, the WT mice was not found the cell infiltration and tissue damage in the cochlear, the organ of Corti shown normal of outer hair cells. Mast cells were not found in the middle ear mucosa of TLR2(-/-) mice, but in the TLR4(-/-) and WT mice, more mast cells were found in the middle ear mucosa of effusion ear by 3 and 7 days postchallenge. Moreover, by 3 days postchallenge, the mRNA accumulation levels of NF-κB, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), interleukin1β, MIP-1α, MUC5AC and MUC5B were significantly lower in the ears of TLR2(-/-) mice than that in WT and TLR4(-/-) mice.

CONCLUSIONSTLR2(-/-) mice may produce relatively low levels of proinflammatory cytokines following pneumococcal challenge, thus hindering the clearance of bacteria from the middle ear and leading to sepsis and high mortality rate. This study indicated that TLR2 and TLR4 are important in the molecular pathogenesis and host response to otitis media.

Animals ; Female ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Otitis Media, Suppurative ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Pneumococcal Infections ; metabolism ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Toll-Like Receptor 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective: To analyze the effect of acupuncture versus hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Methods: China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Academic Journal Full-text Database (Wanfang), Chongqing VIP Database (CQVIP), China Biology Medicine Disc (CBM), Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE) were searched up to January 31st, 2019 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effect of acupuncture for POI. The primary outcome was the level of basal serum follicle- stimulating hormone (FSH). Secondary outcomes included serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2) and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH). Two authors extracted data independently and assessed the risk of bias and the methodological quality using the Cochrane's tool. Meta-analysis was conducted by RevMan version 5.3. Results: Eight eligible RCTs with a total of 496 POI patients were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled results showed that there was a significant reduction in the basal serum FSH level (MD=-5.82, 95％CI:-9.76 to -1.87, I2=82％, P=0.004) and a remarkable elevation in the basal E2 level (SMD=0.93, 95％CI: 0.34 to 1.52, I2=88％, P=0.002) in the acupuncture group when compared with the control. Subgroup analysis showed that compared with HRT, a significant decrease in the FSH level was observed in both acupuncture alone (MD=-4.53, 95％CI:-8.96 to -0.10, I2=73％, P=0.04) and acupuncture plus HRT (MD=-9.60, 95％CI:-17.60 to -1.61, I2=50％, P=0.02), while a remarkable elevation of E2 was only found in acupuncture plus HRT (SMD=1.43, 95％CI: 1.03 to 1.82, I2=0％, P<0.00001). There was no significant difference in the LH level between acupuncture and HRT (MD=-3.16, 95％CI:-9.41 to 3.10, I2=0％, P=0.32), only one trial reported AMH, and no significant difference was found between acupuncture and HRT. Conclusion: The present study indicated that acupuncture had an advantage over HRT in reducing serum FSH level and increasing serum E2 level in women with POI. However, evidence supporting the finding is limited due to the small sample size, potential methodological flaws and significant heterogeneity. Hence, this conclusion still needs to be verified by high-quality RCTs.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Genes, Bacterial ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Staphylococcus epidermidis ; enzymology ; genetics ; beta-Lactamases ; chemistry ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo compare the epidemiological and clinical features of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) caused by influenza virus A (IVA) and influenza virus B (IVB) in children.

METHODSThe clinical data of 366 children with LRTI caused by influenza virus (IV), who were hospitalized in Yuying Children′s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University between 2010 and 2014, were analyzed retrospectively, and there were 272 cases caused by IVA and 94 cases caused by IVB.

RESULTSIV was mainly prevalent from December to March of the next year, with the predominance of IVA. There were small peaks of IVA prevalence in July or September every other year, and IVB was prevalent from December to March of the next year every other year. The children with LRTI caused by IVA alone had a significantly higher white blood cell (WBC) count and significantly higher percentages of children with increased WBC, abnormal serum sodium, and abnormal serum potassium than those caused by IVB alone (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in age, sex, underlying diseases, clinical manifestations, and co-infection rate with bacteria or atypical pathogens between the two groups (P>0.05). The rate of co-infection with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was significantly higher in the IVB group than in the IVA group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIVA is prevalent in winter and spring every year and has small peaks in summer every other year, while IVB is prevalent in winter and spring every other year. Compared with IVB, IVA causes more cases of increased WBC and electrolyte disturbance. The children infected with IVB are more likely to be co-infected with RSV. The children with LRTI caused by IVA and IVB have similar clinical manifestations.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Influenza A virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Influenza B virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Influenza, Human ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; virology ; Male ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; virology ; Retrospective Studies ; Seasons

OBJECTIVETo study the correlations between the bone quality and level of u-DPD and serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in the ovariectomized osteoporosis rats.

METHODSForty female rats were randomly divided into the ovariectomy group (the OVX group) and the sham-operation group (the Sham group), and draw materials in 12 and 24 weeks after operation. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the 1st lumbar, the femoral neck and femur was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptionetry. The level of urine DPD was measured by ELISA. The concentration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in serum was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The limit of compressive strength and elastic modulus of 1st lumbar and bending load of right femur were measured by photoelasticity meter. The osseous morphology of upper tibia was measured by the non-decalcifing section. The correlation of experimental data was analyzed by statistical method.

RESULTSIn ovariectomy group, except the level of urine DPD/Cr was increase, all data decreased significantly compared with the samp group,and descending continually with the lapse of time. The results showed that there was a negative correlation between the urine DPD/Cr and BMD of the 1st lumbar, femur, the limit of compressive strength of 1st lumbar, bending load of femur and trabecular bone area. But there was a positive correlation significantly between the concentration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in serum and BMD of the 1st lumbar, the femoral neck and femur, trabecular bone area, the limit of compressive strength of 1st lumbar, bend load of femur.

CONCLUSIONThe correlation is remarkable between the bone quality and the level of urine DPD/Cr, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in serum. We can predict the bone quality by measuring the level of urine DPD/Cr and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in serum.

Amino Acids ; urine ; Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Density ; Calcitriol ; blood ; Creatinine ; urine ; Female ; Osteoporosis ; metabolism ; Ovariectomy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the regulatory role of BRCA1 in the expression of progesterone receptors A and B (PRA and PRB) in breast cancer cells.

METHODSBreast cancer MCF-7 cells were transfected with pFlag-CMV2-BRCA1 wt plasmid containing a full-length BRCA1 cDNA or with BRCA1-specific siRNA via lipofectamine 2000 to induce overexpression or suppressed expression of BRCA1, respectively. Twenty-four hours after the transfection, the cells were incubated in fresh culture medium containing 100 nmol/L progesterone for 24 h. The total RNA extract or whole cell lysate was prepared for detecting BRCA1, PRA and PRB expressions using RT-PCR and Western blotting.

RESULTSThe protein expressions of PRA and PRB were significantly decreased whereas their mRNA expressions remained unchanged in MCF-7 cells overexpressing BRCA1. In MCF-7 cells with BRCA1 knock-down, in contrast, the PRA and PRB protein expressions were markedly increased.

CONCLUSIONIn breast cancer cells, exogenous and endogenous BRCA1 can both down-regulate the expressions of PRA and PRB at the protein level.

BRCA1 Protein ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Blotting, Western ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Receptors, Progesterone ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and short-term outcomes of total laparoscopic sigmoid and rectal surgery combined with transanal endoscopic microsurgery(TEM).

METHODSThe clinical data of 26 patients with colorectal carcinoma treated by total laparoscopic surgery with TEM between May 2010 and May 2011 in the Shanghai Ruijin Hospital were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSAll the 26 operations were successfully accomplished laparoscopically. There was no conversion to open procedure. No diverting ileostomy was made. The mean operative time was (151.6±25.9) min. The mean blood loss was (200.2±114.7) ml. The mean time to first flatus was (2.0±0.5) d. The mean tumor size was (3.0±0.7) cm and all resection margins were negative. The mean number of lymph nodes harvested was (12.9±2.2). Six patients developed postoperative anastomotic leakage, all of who had tumors in the lower rectum. There were no ureteral injury, intestinal obstruction, or pulmonary infection.

CONCLUSIONSTotal laparoscopic sigmoid and rectal surgery combined with TEM is a safe and feasible minimally invasive surgery. It is an improvement by combining laparoscopic skills with the concept of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery.

Adult ; Aged ; Anal Canal ; surgery ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To develop a set of wearable device for dynamic monitoring of human vital signs and environmental information during exercise.Methods By using system integration mode,multiple sensor modules were integrated in the design of the device.A microcontroller was selected as the core of the hardware circuit.Then serial ports simulation was used to connect all sensors to the microcontroller.Wireless data transmission between the handset and the primary control module was implemented with Bluetooth component.Results The device behaved well in low energy consumption,small volume,low weight and data accuracy,and met the design requirements for wearable mobile monitoring device.Conciusion The device provides real-time data monitoring to the users so as to contribute to human health.