OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of Xiao's "xingnaofusu" needling (the technique for resuscitation) on regaining consciousness in the patients with persistent vegetative state (PVS). METHODS: A total of 50 patients of PVS were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 25 cases in each. The patients in the control group were treated by the routine western medicine, and those in the observation group treated by Xiao's "xingnaofusu" needling and routine western medicine. Baihui (GV20), Dingshen (Extra) to Shangen (Extra) (penetrating technique), Fengchi (GB20) to GB20 (penetrating technique), Neiguan (PC6) to Waiguan (TE5) (penetrating technique), Hegu (LI4) to Laogong (HT8) (penetrating technique) and Taichong (LR3) to Yongquan (KI1) (penetrating technique) were selected. The treatment was given once a day, 10 days as one treatment course, 3 courses in total. The coma recovery scale-revised (CRS-R) score, the modified Ashworth scale (MAS) score and the Glasgow coma scale (GCS) were separately compared before and after the treatment. Additionally, CT scanning was adopted to measure the width of the third ventricle before and after treatment so as to evaluate the clinical therapeutic effect. RESULTS: After the treatment, the CRS-R and GCS scores in the two groups increased remarkably, and MAS score reduced obviously as compared with that before the treatment(P<0.05); and the CRS-R and GCS scores were higher, and MAS score lower in the observation group than those in the control group(P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the width of the third ventricle reduced obviously in the observation group after the treatment(P<0.05). At the end of the treatment courses, the effective rate was 79.2%(19/24)in the observation group and was 47.8%(11/23) in the control group. The effective rate of the observation group was obviously higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Xiao's "xingnaofusu" needling can remarkably improve the central nerve function, promote the recovery of brain function and the motor function of limbs, reduce the width of the third ventricle and improve the clinical therapeutic effect of regaining consciousness in the patients with PVS.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the origin of myofibroblasts in oral submucous fibrosis.

METHODSThe oral keratinocytes and fibroblasts were isolated and cultured. The expression of the alpha-smooth muscle actin in the fibroblasts was examined by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSNo difference was found in expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin between the fibroblasts that were directly stimulated by arecoline and the control. The expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin in the keratinocyte and fibroblast-cocultured group was higher than in the control group, and higher in fibroblasts cocultured with keratinocytes preprocessed by arecoline than in fibroblasts cocultured with keratinocytes without preprocessed by arecoline.

CONCLUSIONSThe differentiation of myofibroblasts from fibroblasts in oral submucous fibrosis might be induced by the interaction of arecoline and keratinocyte.

Actins ; metabolism ; Arecoline ; pharmacology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Coculture Techniques ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; cytology ; Mouth Mucosa ; cytology ; Oral Submucous Fibrosis ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonists on angiotensin II-induced cellular response in cultured fibroblasts derived from patients with hypertrophic scars, so as to investigate its effects on preventing the formation of hypertrophic scars.

METHODSFibroblasts were freshly isolated from hypertrophic scars and cultured with angiotensin II, rosiglitazone and GW9662 at a certain concentration. Fibroblasts proliferation were assessed via Cell Counting Kit-8; the mRNA and protein expressions of Collagen I and Fibronectin (FN) were determined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting.

RESULTSThe absorbance of CCK-8 and relative expression of Collagen I, FN mRNA and protein were 1.082 5 +/- 0.007, 6.45 +/- 0.97, 4.92 +/- 0.86, 2.92 +/- 0.41, 2.78 +/- 1.04 in Ang II group; 0.722 4 +/- 0.012, 1.82 +/- 0.34, 1.78 +/- 0.27, 1.57 +/- 0.46, 1.68 +/- 0.39 in Ros + Ang II group; 0.554 7 +/- 0.012, 0.97 +/- 0.12, 1.07 +/- 1.08, 1.05 +/- 0.43, 1.14 +/- 0.36 in Ros group; 1.056 0 +/- 0.005, 5.83 +/- 0.24, 4.47 +/- 0.32, 2.69 +/- 0.35, 2.62 +/- 0.27 in GW9662 + ros + Ang II group. The results showed a significant difference between the Ang II group and the control group (P < 0.05). The effect of Ang II could be markedly inhibited by Ros (P < 0.05). In addition, Ros did not influence cell proliferation and production of extracellular matrix (P > 0.05). There was a significant difference between the GW9662 + Ros + Ang II group and the Ros + Ang II (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPPAR-gamma agonists inhibit Ang II-induced proliferation and extracellular matrix synthesis effectively in the hypertrophic scar fibroblasts. Thus PPAR-gamma agonists may have potential therapeutic effect for hypertrophic scar.

Angiotensin II ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; metabolism ; Collagen Type I ; biosynthesis ; Extracellular Matrix ; drug effects ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Fibronectins ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; PPAR gamma ; agonists

OBJECTIVETo study the variation and significance of serum and stool IL-18 and IFN-gamma levels in children with rotavirus enteritis.

METHODSSerum and stool specimens from 50 children with acute rotavirus enteritis were collected before treatment. Serum and stool levels of IL-18 and IFN-gamma were measured using ELISA. Serum and stool specimens from 21 age and gender-matched healthy children were used as the Control group.

RESULTSSerum and stool levels of IL-18 and IFN-gamma in patients with rotavirus enteritis were significantly higher than those in the Control group. There was a negative correlation between the serum IFN-gamma level and the frequency of vomiting (r=-0.368, P < 0.05). The stool IL-18 level negatively correlated to the frequency of diarrhea (r=-0.414, P < 0.05). A positive correlation was found between the serum levels of IL-18 and IFN-gamma (r=0.416, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSerum and stool levels of IL-18 and IFN-gamma were increased and associated with the severity in children with rotavirus enteritis. IL-18 and IFN-gamma might have protective effects against acute rotavirus infection at the early stage.

Child, Preschool ; Enteritis ; immunology ; Feces ; chemistry ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; physiology ; Interleukin-18 ; blood ; physiology ; Male ; Rotavirus Infections ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo sum up the experience of carotid endarterectomy (CEA).

METHODSFrom January 1999 to July 2003, 59 patients were treated by CEA. There were 40 males and 19 females, and their age ranged from 56 to 79 years with an average of 71.8 years. The stenotic degree of internal carotid artery were over 80% in all cases. The left lesions were in 35 cases, and the right in 19, and the bilateral in 5. Patching were in 5, bypass with a great saphenous vein in 2.

RESULTSFifty-five cases were excellent. Two patient died, one was caused by hyperperfusion syndrome, the another was due to the acute cardiac infarction at 31 days after operation. The complications included 5 hematosis and 1 hoarseness.

CONCLUSIONCEA is still the best method in treating the stenosis and occlusion of carotid artery.

Aged ; Arterial Occlusive Diseases ; surgery ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Stenosis ; surgery ; Endarterectomy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Care ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of arecoline and nicotine on the expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA and protein in cultured normal human oral keratinocytes (KC).

METHODSThe experiments were divided into arecoline group, arecoline/nicotine group and control group. The hTERT mRNA and protein expression of KC was examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot.

RESULTSArecoline could induce the hTERT mRNA and protein expression of KC in a dose dependent manner, the hTERT mRNA and protein expression of KC was higher in 0.030, 0.060, 0.090 g/L arecoline group than control group (P < 0.001). Nicotine (0.025 g/L) increased hTERT mRNA and protein expression of KC induced by arecoline.

CONCLUSIONSArecoline could increase the expression of hTERT mRNA and protein in oral keratinocytes. Nicotine had a synergistic effect on arecoline. hTERT over-expression induced by arecoline and nicotine may play an important role in the malignant transformation of oral submucous fibrosis.

Arecoline ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Cholinergic Agonists ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Synergism ; Ganglionic Stimulants ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Mouth Mucosa ; enzymology ; pathology ; Nicotine ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Telomerase ; genetics ; metabolism

(0.05)). The sensitivity and the agreement rate were best at dose of Dob 10 ?g?kg~(-1)?min~(-1) with (86.5)% and (86.5)% (Kappa(0.71)), respectively. When Isoket combined with Dob 3,5 ?g?kg~(-1)?min~(-1), the sensitivities and the agreement rates were both significantly improved than either one used (both P

To study the effect of Siwu decoction on the function and expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in Caco-2 cells. The Real-time quantitative poly-merase chain reaction (Q-PCR) was used to analyze the mRNA expression of MDR1 gene in Caco-2 cells. Flow cytometer was used to study the effect of Siwu decoction on the uptake of Rhodamine 123 in Caco-2 cells, in order to evaluate the efflux function of P-gp. Western blotting method was used to detect the effect of Siwu decoction on the P-gp protein expression of Caco-2 cells. Compared with the blank control group, after Caco-2 incubation with Siwu decoction at concentrations of 3.3, 5.0, 10.0 g x L(-1) for 24, 48, 72 h, the mRNA expression of MDR1 was up-regulated, suggesting the effect of Siwu decoction in inducing the expression of MDR1. After the administration with Siwu decoction in Caco-2 cells for 48 h, the uptake of Rhodamine 123 in Caco-2 cells decreased by respectively 16.6%, 22.1% (P < 0.05) and 45.4% (P < 0.01), indicating that the long-term administration of Siwu decoction can enhance the P-gp efflux function of Caco-2 cells. After the incubation of Caco-2 cells with Siwu decoction for 48 h, the P-gp protein expression on Caco-2 cell emebranes, demonstrating the effect of Siwu decoction in inducing the protein expression of P-gp.
ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family B ; genetics ; metabolism ; ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Caco-2 Cells ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Up-Regulation ; drug effects

A metabolic profiling analysis method for metabolomic studies of rice leaf was established based on HSS T3 combined with XBridge Amide Q-TOF LC/MS by comparing the influences of different extraction methods in rice leaves of metabolites. The extraction and separation of rice leaf metabolites using three different methods including methanol-chloroform-water,methanol-chloroform-ammonia,methanol-methyl tert-butyl ether -water and different chromatographic systems were compared by the numbers of peaks, identified metabolites and the metabolic pathways. The results showed that the method of methanol-chloroform-water reached the highest coverage rate of metabolites in rice leaves,and the maximum number of unique metabolites including prephenic acid, luteolin, α-linolenic acid, aconitic acid, gibberellin A12 aldehyde, isovitexin, L-Glutamate were detected. Metabolites with different polarity in rice leaf could be detected by HSS T3 and XBridge Amide. A total of 16 kinds of organic acids, 17 kinds of nucleotides, 21 kinds of amino acids, 66 kinds of fatty acids,11 kinds of phospholipids and 7 kinds of sphingolipids were identified. XBridge Amide had an absolute advantage in detecting phospholipids and sphingolipids. The metabolic pathways involved purine metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, tricarboxylic acid cycle, arginine metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, phospholipid metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism and vitamin B2 synthesis. It showed certain complementarity between the two columns in identifying metabolites and involved the metabolic pathways. The established method is expected to be useful for the metabolomic studies of rice.

Objective To explore the correlation between hippocampal zinc transporter 1 and 3 expressions and epilepsy in spontaneously epileptic rats (ESRs) and normal rats, and observe the alternations of zinc homeostasis in zinc-containing neurons after seizure. Methods Western blot and RT-PCR were used to detect zinc transporter 1 and 3 expressions in the hippocampus of both ESRs with recurrent seizures and normal Wistar rats. Results At both the mRNA and protein levels, hippocampal zinc transporter 1 expression in ESRs with recurrent seizures was significantly higher than that in normal Wistar rats, while hippocampal zinc transporter 3 protein expression was comparable between the two groups. Conclusion Hippocampal zinc transporter 1 expression is up-regnlated and Zn2+ in the hippocampal neurons, especially the post-synaptic neurons, can be elevated in ESRs after recurrent seizure. Up-regulated zinc transporter 1 expression in the hippocampus may protect the neurons against seizure-induced injuries by decreasing Zn2+ levels in the neurons.