ObjectiveTo discuss the experimental method and the mechanisms on treating diseases by acupuncturing the ST36(Zusanli).MethodsUsing Positron Emission Tomography(PET) and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging(fMRI) to obtain the experimental data about glycometabolism and cerebral blood stream,using SPM and ROI image-analytical method to obtain the visual experimental evidence when acupuncturing the ST36. ResultsThere are certain increases of glycometabolism and cerebral blood stream in ipsilateral hypothalamus and bilateral temporal lobe, when acupuncturing the ST36. Conclusions Acupuncturing the ST36 can lead to the functional changes in vegetative nerve center and temporal lobe, which is close correlated with the therapeutical effects of ST36.

The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between some chemokines and the pathogenesis of GVHD and to find some biomarkers with diagnostic significance through observing and comparing the changes of some chemokine levels in samples from patients with or without aGVHD after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). 26 plasma samples were obtained from 26 patients undergoing allo-HSCT at various time points after transplantation, of which 13 samples from patients with aGVHD were served as investigating group and 13 samples from patients without GVHD after Allo-HSCT were used as control group. The patient characteristics between the two groups were compared, the levels of 40 chemokines in these samples were detected by ELISA, the changes of chemokine levels in samples of 2 groups were analyzed by means of significance analysis microarray (SAM), clustering method and c-test. The results showed that there were significant differences in levels of 6 chemokines including HCC-1, MIF, IP-10, ITAC, TARC and NAP-2 between 2 groups, in which the level of MIF in plasma samples after HSCT was the highest, the difference of TARC level between 2 groups was over 10-fold. It is concluded that the level changes of chemokines mentioned above can be used as a indicator of GVHD presence, but their pathogenetic role in occurrence of aGVHD remains to be determined.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Chemokines ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; blood ; pathology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Young Adult

Objective: To study the effect and mechanism of Shuanghua aerosol (SHA) in treating infantile upper respiratory tract infection. Methods: In the clinical study, 276 patients were randomly divided into two groups. The treated group was treated with SHA and the control group was treated with Shuanghuanglian aerosol (SHLA, 双黄连气雾剂). In the experimental study, the effects of SHA on anti-inflammation and anti-virus were observed. Results: The clinical total effective rate of SHA was 99.03% and its cure rate 65.38%, while those of the SHLA were 94.11% and 44.12% respectively, significant difference was shown between the two groups (P<0.01). Experimental study showed that SHA could inhibit the xylol induced ear swelling and the egg white induced paw swelling in mice obviously, and inhibit the proliferation of influenza virus in rat's lung. Conclusion: SHA has obvious anti-inflammatory and anti-viral effect, and has good curative effect in treating infantile upper respiratory tract infection.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the treatment for traumatic intervertebrae disk herniation in cervical thoracic junction.

METHODSFrom 2003 to 2008, there were 10 patients with trautimatic intervertebral disk herniation in cervical thoracic junction, which included 6 males and 4 females, aged from 23 to 66 years (means 41.5 years). All of them were performed through the transforminal approach combined with internal fixation. After operation all patient underwent hyperbaric oxygen treatment. The function of spine was evaluated by JOA score system.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up for 8 to 16 months(means 13 months). All patients got recovery of spine function to some extent except one case with complete spine damaged. The JOA scores was improved from (8 +/- 3) before operation to (15 +/- 2) after operation.

CONCLUSIONEarly and effective treatment by transforminal operation could be helpful for the recovery of spine function.

Adult ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery

AIMTo observe the effects of adenosine on intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) level in guinea pig ventricular myocytes and to define the possible mechanisms involved.

METHODSThe effects of adenosine on [Ca2+]i were investigated in guinea pig ventricular myocytes. [Ca2+]i was detected by laser confocal microscopy and represented by relative fluorescent intensity ((FI-FI0)/FI0, %, FIo: control, FI: administration of drugs).

RESULTS(1) Adenosine (10, 50, 100 micromol/L) reduced [Ca2+]i of ventricular myocytes in both normal Tyrode's solution and Ca(2+) -free Tyrode's solution in a concentration-dependent manner. (2) Tyrode's solution containing 30 mmol/L KCl (high K+ Tyrode's solution) induced [Ca2+]i elevation in ventricular myocytes, while adenosine (10, 50, 100 micromol/L) markedly inhibited the increase in [Ca2+]i induced by KCl. (3) Pretreatment with DPCPX (1 micromol/L) significantly reduced the effects of adenosine (100 micromol/L) in high K+ Tyrode's solution. The effects of adenosine (100 micromol/L) on [Ca2+]i in high K+ Tyrode's solution were also partially attenuated by pretreatment with L-NAME (1 mmol/L). (4) Adenosine (100 micromol/L) markedly inhibited the low concentration of ryanodine-induced [Ca2+]i increase in Ca(2+) -free Tyrode's solution. (5) When the propagating waves of elevated [Ca2+]i (Ca2+ waves) were produced by increasing extracellular Ca2+ concentration from 1 mmol/L to 10 mmol/L, adenosine (100 micromol/L) could block the propagating waves of elevated [Ca2+]i, reduce the frequency and duration of propagating waves, and reduce [Ca2+]i as well.

CONCLUSIONAdenosine may reduce the [Ca2+]i in isolated guinea pig ventricular myocytes via inhibiting Ca2+ influx and alleviating Ca2+ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum(SR). The reduction of Ca2+ influx might be due to the inhibition of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel via adenosine A1 receptor, and NO might be involved in this process.

Adenosine ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Guinea Pigs ; Heart Ventricles ; cytology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo analyze the frequency of thyroid dysfunction and determine its influencing factors in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients treated with pegylated-interferon alpha (peg-IFNa)-2a and ribavirin (RBV) combination therapy.

METHODSA total of 194 CHC patients were treated with peg-IFNa-2a and RBV for 48 weeks. Development of thyroid dysfunction was recorded. Clinical and biological factors from pre-treatment (baseline) to post-treatment were statistically analyzed to determine correlation with thyroid dysfunction in this patient population.

RESULTSFifty-two (26.80%) of 194 peg-IFNa-2a/RBV-treated patients developed thyroid dysfunction. Dysfunction severity ranged from hyperthyroidism (n = 1, 0.52%) and hypothyroidism (n = 10, 5.15%) to subclinical hyperthyroidism (n = 4, 2.06%) and subclinical hypothyroidism (n = 37, 19.07%). The dysfunction rate was significantly higher after peg-IFNa-2a/RBV treatment (26.80% vs. 12.37% at baseline, x2 = 12.829, P less than 0.05, odds ratio (OR) = 0.386, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.226-0.657), in females (33.00% vs. 20.21% in males, P less than 0.05, 95% CI: 1.016-3.040), and in thyroid auto-antibody positive patients (64.29% vs. 23.89% in negative patients, P less than 0.05, 95% CI: 1.681-36.183). Early virological response did not have any significant effect on dysfunction rate (23.00% vs. 30.85% no early virological response, x2 = 1.522, P more than 0.05) nor did end of treatment response (27.19% vs. 26.25% no response at end of treatment, x2 = 0.021, P more than 0.05). Patients who developed thyroid dysfunction had higher interleukin (IL)-6 at baseline (i.e. before peg-IFNa-2a/RBV treatment) (27.08+/-14.90 vs. 11.65+/-5.46 in patients who maintained normal thyroid function, t = 3.127, P less than 0.05, 95% CI: 5.28-25.58). IL-6 levels were not significantly different between the two groups at 24 weeks (6.30+/-2.47 vs. 6.81+/-2.80, t = 0.352, P more than 0.05). IL-6 levels before and after 48 weeks of treatment in normal thyroid function patients were 27.08+/-14.90 and 6.30+/-2.47, t = 3.632, P less than 0.05, and in thyroid dysfunction patients were 11.65+/-5.46 and 6.81+/-2.80, t = 1.997, P more than 0.05.

CONCLUSIONPeg-IFNa-2a/RBV combination therapy may cause thyroid dysfunction, especially hypothyroidism, in CHC patients. Female sex and thyroid auto-antibody positivity may put CHC patients at higher risk of developing thyroid dysfunction during peg-IFNa-2a/RBV therapy. Elevated IL-6 may be a predictive marker of peg-IFNa-2a/RBV-induced thyroid dysfunction.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene Glycols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Recombinant Proteins ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Ribavirin ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Thyroid Diseases ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Thyroid Gland ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Treatment Outcome

Objective Purpose of this research is to biomechanically compare the screw-fixed and plate-fixed posterior malleolus fracture in osteoporosis patients with fatigue loading system and space motion system in simulation gait cycle,and to give a theory evidence on how to choose an internal fixation in osteoporosis patients with posterior malleolus fracture.Methods 72 osteoporotic cadaveric lower limbs were prepared to simulate Haraguchi Ⅰ posterior malleolus fracture and randomized into 2 groups with 36 each.Screw group were fixed with 2 paralleled 4.0 mm titanium partial thread cancellous screws from posterior to anterior.Plate group were fixed with plate.Based on the ratio of fracture area on sagittal plane to distal tibial articular surface (S),the two groups were subdivided into three subgroups,named as screw group A,plate group A,screw group B,plate group B,screw group C,plate group C.S (screw group A,plate group A)=l/4;S (screw group B,plate group B)=1/3;S (screw group C,plate group C)=1/2.According to the height of fracture fragments,these 6 subgroups were further divided into subgroup "a" with height 19.3mm and subgroup "b" with height 39 mm.Furthermore,4 different conditions of gait cycle were simulated as follows:1) specimen was loaded with 3.2 body weight (BW) at dorsiflexion angle of 12°;2) Start-up phase:dorsiflexion angle of 5°,3 BW;3) neutral position,3.6 BW;4) maximum plantar flexion,angle of 12°,4.5 BW.At the end of repeated loading,the displacement of fracture fragment was measured with space motion system.Results At dorsiflexion 12° and plantar flexion 15°,there was a significant difference of displacement between screw and plate group with a larger displacement in screw group,whatever S or H was.When ankle was at dorsiflexion of 5°,the displacement showed significant difference between screw group Aa and plate group Aa,screw group Ba and plate group Ba,screw group Bb and plate group Bb,screw group Cb and plate group Cb,with a larger displacement in screw group.In neutral position,the differences were significant with a larger displacement in screw group,except between screw group Bb and plate group Bb.Conclusion Plate can provide stronger fixation for osteoporosis patients with posterior malleolus fracture in most situations,but both of the two methods cannot provide stable fixation when posterior malleolus fragment was in a too big area or height.

The secondary structure of Capsid protein was predicted by the methods of Chou-Fasman,Garnier-Robson and Karplus-Schultz based on the sepuence of capsid protein gene of Swine Vesicular Disease Virus (SVDV) and hydrophilicity. Surface probility plot and antigenic index for capsid protein were obtained by the methods of Kyte-Doolittle, Emini and Jameson-wolf, respectively, Combining the results according to these methods, the B cell epitopes for capsid protein of SVDV were predicted. The results showed that there are much flexible region such as coil region and turn region in capsid protein of SVDV, there are more predominant B cell epitopes in VP1 than in VP2 and VP3. This study would be helpful for identification of B cell epitopes for capsid protein using experimental methods and research of reverse vaccine of SVDV.

Genetic variants in glioma tumor suppressor candidate region gene 1 (GLTSCR1)and ATM serine/threonine kinase (ATM) have been associated with various cancer risks.Epidemiological studies also revealed the association of variants of GLTSCR1 and ATM genes with different brain tumors.However,little is known about the relationship between both gene polymorphisms and lung cancer risk.We conducted a Chinese hospital-based casecontrol study involving 384 lung cancer cases and 387 cancer-free controls.No significant differences in the single polymorphism (GLTSCR1 rs1035938 and ATM rs11212592)association were found in five genetic models (co-dominant,dominant,recessive,overdominant and log-additive models) (adjusted by smoking duration).Join effect of three SNPs (PPP1R13L rs1970764,CD3EAP rs967591,GLTSCR1 rs1035938) on chromosome 19q 13.3 showed that the designated haplotype2 (rs 1970764

Objective To determine the value and the optimal cutoff point of waist circumference (WC) in screening diabetes mellitus (DM) and to provide evidence for DM prevention and identifying population at risk in mid-western rural areas of Shandong province.Methods A sample consisting 16 341 rural residents was selected and studied.All participants were physically examined on height,weight,WC and fasting plasma glucose (FPG).Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed for subjects with FPG valued from 6.1 to 7.0 mmol/L.DM was defined according to the criteria set by WHO in 1999.Area under the curve (AUC),sensitivity,specificity and Youden index were computed based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.Optimal cutoff point was determined by the maximum of Youden index.Results The prevalence rates of DM for males and females increased along with the rise of WC (trend test X2=72.01,122.65,P＜0.01 ).It appeared significantly higher in those with WC 85 cm in females and≥80 cm in males,with those WC ＜85 cm for females and ＜80 cm for males,in particular.AUCs were 0.639 and 0.655 for males and females respectively and both had significant differences (t=7.22,11.07,P ＜0.01 ).However,the AUCs did not show significant difference (t=0.70,P ＞ 0.05) between males and females.The Youden index reached maximum when WC approached 85 cm for females (24.90%) and 80 cm for males (24.39%).The sensitivity and specificity were 58.04%and 66.86%for males,and 67.08%and 57.31%for females.Conclusion WC seemed to be an effective indicator for screening the DM.The optimal cutoff point of WC would be 85 cm for females and 80 cm for males in screening DM and defining the population at risk in this area.