Objective To observe the effectiveness of Chinese herbal medicine plus movement therapy in treating upper limb spasticity in hemiplegic patients. Methods Sixty-six patients were divided randomly into two groups. Thirty-five patients in the therapy group were treated with Chinese herbal medicine and movement therapy, and 31 patients in the control group were treated with movement therapy alone. The modified Ashworth scale and sur- face electromyography were applied to evaluate spasticity. Results The total effectiveness rates were 94.3% in the therapy group and 64.5% in the control group. After treatment, the average integrated electromyogram (IEMG) val- ue in the therapy group was lower than that in the control group. The difference in IEMG values before and after treat- ment in the therapy group was significantly larger than in the control group. Conclusion Chinese herbal medicine plus movement therapy is more effective than movement therapy alone in relieving spasticity.

Objective:This study was aimed to investigate the influence of CDK7 siRNA on the sensitivity of endometrial carci-noma cell line HEC-1-A to cisplatin (DDP)-based chemotherapy. Methods:Different CDK7 siRNA fragments were synthesized based on the designs of the CDK gene sequence and were transfected into HEC-1-A. Real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reac-tion (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis were employed to demonstrate the effects of transfection. The best CDK7 siRNA was chosen to specifically silence CDK7 expression in HEC-1-A.The sensitivity of the cells to DDP therapy before and after transfection was deter-mined by methyl thiazol tetrazolium (MTT) cytotoxicity assay, flow cytometry, and Hoechst/PI double-staining fluorescence microsco-py. Results:A total of four different CDK7 siRNA segments were designed and successfully transfected into HEC-1-A cells. The inter-ference effect in each group was confirmed by real time RT-PCR and Western blot assays. CDK7-423 was determined as the best per-forming CDK7 siRNA (over 70%) to transfect into HEC-1-A cells. MTT cytotoxicity test showed that IC50 of DDP decreased to a range from 45.122 μg/mL and 3.200 μg/mL after inhibition of CDK7 expression. DDP toxicity to the endometrial carcinoma cells sig-nificantly increased (P<0.05). Flow cytometry revealed that the average cell apoptosis rate significantly increased after the inhibition of CDK7 expression (11.66%to 37.57%, P<0.05). Similar results were observed using Hoechst/PI double-staining fluorescence microsco-py, and the number of apoptotic corpuscle demonstrated an apparent increase in the low CDK7-expressing group compared with the pa-rental cells. Conclusion:After the downregulation of CDK7 expression by CDK7 siRNA transfection, DDP chemotherapy sensitivity and apoptosis of endometrial carcinoma cells significantly increased. Further research is anticipated on the use of CDK7 as a new treat-ment target for endometrial carcinoma.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Garlic ; chemistry ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Pharyngitis ; therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo confirm the inhibitory effect of Chinese herbs of acid taste on melanin synthesis.

METHODSActive ingredients of 22 kinds Chinese herbs of acid tastes were extracted by alkali extraction and acid precipitation, alcohol extraction, and water extraction, respectively, which was then dispensed into 25.00, 12.50, and 6.25 g/L suspension. Their effects on activities of tyrosinase were detected using mushroom-tyrosinase-DOPA speed oxidation. Their inhibition rates on activities of tyrosinase were respectively compared with inhibition rates of 1.0, 0.5, and 0.1 mmol/L arbutin.

RESULTSThe 22 kinds Chinese herbs of acid taste included Cornus Officinalis, Crataegus pinnatifida, dark plum fruit, Schisandra Chinensis, Chaenomeles sinensis Koehne, Reynoutria japonica Houtt, Achyranthes Bidentata, Sanguisorba officinalis L., Semen Ziziphi Spinosae, Herba Ecliptae, blueberry, immature bitter orange, submature bitter orange, Prunus mume Var, Hovenia acerba Lindl., Fructus Mori, Pomegranate Rind, white paeony root, Rosa laevigata Michx., Portulaca oleracea L, Terminalia chebula Retz, Rhus chinensis Mill. Their alkaline extractions showed inhibition to activities of tyrosinase to different degrees except Herba Ecliptae. Of them, the highest inhibition rate (88.49% ± 9.98%) was got by dark plum fruit at 25 g/L, while the lowest inhibition rate (11.22% ± 3.36%) was got by immature bitter orange at 6.25 g/L. Their alcohol extractions showed inhibition to activities of tyrosinase to different degrees except Herba Ecliptae. Of them, the highest inhibition rate (75.92% ± 5.57%) was got by Hovenia acerba Lindl. at 25 g/L, while the lowest inhibition rate (9.60% ± 1.15%) was got by submature bitter orange at 6.25 g/L. Their water extractions all had inhibition on activities of tyrosinase. Of them, the highest inhibition rate (54.23% ± 3.56%) was got by Fructus Mori at 25 g/L, while the lowest inhibition rate (10.25% ± 1.83%) was got by Semen Ziziphi Spinosae at 6.25 g/L. Compared with 1 mmol/L arbutin water solution, alkaline extractions of dark plum fruit, Schisandra Chinensis, Rhus chinensis Mill., Rosa laevigata Michx., blueberry, Chaenomeles sinensis Koehne, Portulaca oleracea L, Fructus Mori, Achyranthes Bidentata, Pomegranate Rind; alcohol extractions of dark plum fruit, Rhus chinensis Mill., Pomegranate Rind, Hovenia acerba Lindl., Crataegus pinnatifida, Achyranthes Bidentata; water extractions of Chaenomeles sinensis Koehne, blueberry, and Fructus Mori at 25 g/L got obviously higher inhibition rates (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with 0.5 mmol/L arbutin water solution, alcohol extraction of Chaenomeles sinensis Koehne and alcohol extraction of dark plum fruit at 12.5 g/L got obviously higher inhibition rates (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONChinese herbs of acid taste could inhibit melanin synthesis, and its mechanism was related to inhibiting activities of tyrosinase.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Melanins ; metabolism ; Monophenol Monooxygenase ; metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Schisandra ; Taste

Objective Although heart transplantation surgery has become more common,little is known about the psychological status of patients waiting for a heart transplant.Method Ninety-three patients registered for heart transplantation from March 2013 to March 2014 in a large general hospital in Shanghai were assessed by a psychiatrist using the Hamilton Depression Scale (17 items) and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale.Out of them 36 were preoperatively admitted to the Cardiac Surgery Department.The scales were assessed repeatedly at the 1st day,3rd day,7th day,10th day and so on until the operation took place.Result The mean scores of HAMD and HAMA of 93 patients in the waiting list were separately 13.11 ±3.81 and 14.20±4.57.Among them 18(19.4％) were classified as moderately depressed,31(33.3％) had moderately anxious symptoms,and 14(14.1％) had severe anxious symptoms.Thirty-six patients were preoperatively admitted to hospital.Their mean scores of HAMD and HAMA were separately 13.19-± 3.82 and 16.17 ± 4.35.Among them 7(19.4％) were classified as moderate depression at the time of admission,16 (44.4％) had moderately anxious symptoms and 9 (25.0％) had severe anxious symptoms.The scores of HAMD had significant difference (t =3.383,P =0.002) before and after admission.Paired t test was separately conducted to analyze the first assessment and the 3rd-day assessment of HAMA and HAMD total scores after admission of all the inpatients.The results showed the scores were statistically different (for HAMA,t =2.786,P =0.009; for HAMD,t =14.024,P =0.000).Repeated ANOVA was used to analyze the recipients who had three assessments.The results had statistical difference (for HAMA,F =4.568,P=0.020; for HAMD,F=5.626,P =0.034) and the difference of HAMD score at different time points had a linear trend (F =8.273,P =0.013).Conclusion After hospital admission,the depression symptoms will be significantly alleviated.When waiting for the transplant in the hospital,the anxiety symptoms alleviate slightly in three days and then aggravate significantly.The depression symptoms alleviate slightly continuously.

Objective To identify the pathogenic gene for a Chinese Han consanguineous marriage family with autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia by homozygosity mapping and mutation analysis.Methods Six members of the family were enrolled in this study,including 3 patients,the unaffected sibling and their parents of first cousin marriage.After excluding GAA repeats mutation of FXN gene,whole-genome single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) microarray scanning and homozygosity mapping were performed to localize the candidate gene.The coding regions and intronic flanking sequences of the candidate genes were analyzed.Results Four candidate regions were identified,including 2p25.3,9q22.2-34.3,13q12.3-14.3 and 17p13.The SETX gene localizing in 9q22.2-34.3 that is responsible for ataxia with oculomotor apraxia 2 was analyzed at first.There were 4 mutations in exon 10,including three missense mutations (c.3576T ＞ G,p.D1192E ; c.3754G ＞ A,p.G1252R; c.4156A ＞ G,p.I1386V) and a deletion mutation (c.5084_5087delAGTC,p.Q1695_S1696del).Three patients were homozygous of the 4 mutations,an unaffected sibling was normal,and their parents were heterozygous of 4 mutations.Conclusions The pathogenic haplotype comprising four mutations of the SETX gene was identified in the consanguinity family.c.5084_5087delAGTC (p.Q1695_S1696del) is a novel mutation.The affected individuals of this family were characterized by mild phenotype and slow progress without oculomotor apraxia,indicating the clinical variability of the disease.

Objective To study the protective effect of total glucosides of Mudan cortex(TGM) on acute myocardial ischemia in mice and its mechanism. Methods The total of 60 mice were randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 12),normal control and model control (were given equal capacity of 0.9% sodium chloride solution),and TGM at low,middle,high dose (were given with 50,100,200 mg?kg-1 TGM).The mice were administered once daily for consecutive seven days.After the last administration,the mice in the model control and drug groups were treated by intraperitoneal injection of 15 mg ? kg-1 isoproterenol to to make myocardial ischemia animal model. TGM on the T wave and J point on ECG, and serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH),myocardial tissue superoxide dismutase (SOD),malondialdehyde (MDA) changes was detected,and the extent of myocardial ischemic injury in mice was measured by Nagar-Olsen staining. Results TGM significantly reduced the displacement of ECG T wave and J point,and improved the related biochemical indexes in mice with myocardial ischemia.The activity of LDH [(898.992± 285.108) μmol?mg-1 ] ,the content of MDA [(11.737 ±5.162) nmol?mg-1 ]in mice treated with TGM at high dose obviously decreased in comparison to the model controls,and the activity of myocardial SOD [(45. 505 ± 20.711) U?mg-1 ] significantly elevated compared with the model control.It was showed that TGM significantly diminished the areas of cardiac muscles ischemia injured via Nagar-Olsen staining. Conclusion TGM has the remarkable protective effect on acute myocardial ischemia injury in mice.

Objective To investigate the clinicopathological features of renal cell carcinoma (RCC).Methods From December 1956 to August 2012,the clinicopathological features of RCC were studied in 705 cases and related literatures were reviewed.Results The diameter of RCC ranged from 0.6 to 18.0 cm,which the average size was 4.6 cm.The proportions of the clear cell,papillary,multilocular clear cell,chromophobe and unclassified histologic subtype were 88.9％ (627/705),4.1％ (29/705),3.3％ (23/705),1.3％ (9/705) and 2.4％ (17/705),respectively.According to the Fuhrman grading system,the proportions of grade 1,2,3,4 were 19.0％ (116/612),58.3％ (357/612),18.1％ (111/612)and 4.6％ (28/612),respectively.The rates of invasion into the renal pelvis,perirenal fat and vascular were 10.9％ (66/603),10.6％ (64/603) and 4.8％ (29/603),respectively.Of 705 cases,464 (76.6％)cases were in T1,65 (10.7％) cases in T2,73 (12.0％) cases in T3,and 4 (0.7％) cases in T4.As to the lymph node and distant metastasis,the rate was 2.8％ (17/606) and 3.5％ (21/606).The percentages of stage Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ RCC were 74.3％ (450/606),9.9％ (60/606),11.7％ (71/606) and 4.1％(25/606),respectively.The 3-,5-,10-and 15-year disease-specific survival rate for RCC was 92.8％,86.9％,76.8％ and 55.5％,respectively.To those patients with clear cell RCC,the disease-specific survival at the same time point was 92.8％,88.1％,77.4％ and 55.4％,respectively.Multivariate analysis showed that the stage was the only independent prognostic factor for RCC.Conclusions Tumor stage of RCC is the independent prognostic factor for disease-specific survival.The evaluation of renal sinus invasion and lymph node should be noted in the diagnosis of RCC.

Objective To investigate the role of nerve growth factor (NGF) in the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy (DNP) and the correlation of NGF level with,sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) and duration of DNP.MethodsThe 41 patients with DNP,35 diabetics without DNP and 33 healthy controls were enrolled.And the serum level of NGF was measured with ELISA,the SNCV of left medial nerve,ulnar nerve,peroneal nerve and tibial nerve were measured too. Then the correlation analysis was completed. ResultsThe serum level of NGF was significantly lower in DNP patients [(665.18±188.32) ng/L] than in healthy controls [(976.44±159.07)ng/L] and in diabetics without DNP [(943.32±167.33) ng/L,F=9.316,P<0.001].The NGF level of DNP patients was positively correlated with SNCV of left medial nerve (r=0.810,P<0.001 ),left peroneal nerve (r=0.760,P<0.001) and duration of DNP (r=0.542,P<0.001).Conclusions The serum level of NGF is lower in DNP patients than in healthy controls.The decrease of the production of NGF may play a role in the pathogenesis of DNP.

Objective To examine the effects of IL-10 on cardiac fibroblasts ( CFBs) proliferation and phenotype transformation to myofibroblasts (MyoFbs) induced by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1);and to investigate the regulating pathways .Methods Cardiac fibroblasts were isolated from cardiac ventricles of neonatal SD rats . The passage 2~4 were used and divided into the following groups for treatment:1) control group, 2) IL-10 reac-tion group, 3) TGF-β1 reaction group, and 4) IL-10 plus TGF-β1 reaction group (TGF-β1 treatment followed with IL-10 pretreatment ) .Cells proliferation was assessed by MTT assay and immunocytochemistry staining for prolifera-ting cell nuclear antigen (PCNA);the phenotype transformation into MyoFbs was assessed by immunocytochemistry of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA);extracellular signal related kinase ( ERK1/2) and P38 kinase pathways were assessed by western-blot.Results TGF-β1 (10 μg/L) treatment boosted the proliferation and the expression ofα-SMA significantly (P<0.01), while IL-10 (10, 50 or 100 μg/L) plus TGF-β1 co-treatment induced lower cell proliferation and expression of α-SMA than treating with TGF-β1 alone ( P<0.05 ) , with the inhibitory effect of IL-10 being concentration dependent .TGF-β1 could significantly stimulate the ERK 1/2 and P38 kinase phospho-rylation ( P<0.01 ) , however IL-10 (100 μg/L) plus TGF-β1 co-treatment failed to down-regulated the phospho-rylation of ERK1/2 and P38 kinase compared with TGF-β1 alone ( ERK1/2:P<0.05;P38:P<0.01 ) .Conclu-sions IL-10 can attenuate TGF-β1-induced CFBs proliferation and phenotype transformation to MyoFbs .The in-hibitory effects may explained by a mechanism of inhibiting the activation of ERK 1/2 and P38 kinase .