OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of natural moxibustion on regulating immune imbalance in asthma rats.

METHODSSeventy SD male rats were divided into a normal group, a placebo group, a dexamethasone group, a big-cake for long-course moxibustion group, a big-cake for short-course moxibustion group, a small-cake for long-course moxibustion group and a small-cake for short-course moxibustion group, ten rats in each one. The rat model of asthma was established by egg albumen sensitization and stimulation in all the groups except the normal group. The natural moxibustion was used in all moxibustion groups, in which big cake of 1 cmX 1 cm size was used in the big-cake groups and small cake of 0.5 cmX 0. 5 cm size was used in the small cake groups. According to relevant acupoints, the natural moxibustion was performed, 5 h per time, once a day. Four times of treatment was considered one course, and three courses were required in the long-course groups and one course was required in the short-course groups. Intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone was applied in the dexamethasone group, which had the same course as long-course moxibustion group. After the treatment, changes of EOS in peripheral blood of asthma rats were observed; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to test the contents of IgE, IL-4 and IFN-gamma in the lung tissue; real-time Q-PCR method was adopted to measure the expression level of transcription factor T-bet and GATA binding protein 3 (GATA-3) in the lung tissue.

RESULTSCompared with the normal group, the EOS in whole blood as well as IL-4 and IgE in plasma were all increased in the placebo group (all P< 0. 01), IFN-gamma in plasma was obviously decreased (P<0. 01); while the levels of EOS, IgE and IL-4 were significantly reduced (all P<0. 01), the content of IFN-gamma was increased (P<0. 01) in all moxibustion groups and dexametnasone group. Compared with the normal group, the expression of T-bet mRNA in the placebo group was significantly reduced (P<0. 01). Each treatment group could significantly increase the expression of T-bet mRNA and reduce that of GATA-3 mRNA (P<0. 01). Compared with the short-course moxibustion groups, the expression of T-bet mRNA was obviously increased in the long-course moxibustion group and dexamethasone group (both P<0.01), and that of GATA-3 mRNA was reduced (P<0.01). There was no significant difference between long-course moxibustion group and dexamethasone group (P> 0. 05), and also no significant difference could be seen between big-cake moxibustion group and small-cake moxibustion group (P>0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe natural moxibustion could obviously reduce airway inflammation in asthma rats. With time passing, the efficacy is enhanced, indicating evident timeliness, which has no apparent relationship with the size of moxibustion cake.

Animals ; Asthma ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy ; Cytokines ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Moxibustion ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the effects of lung lavage on respiratory function of experimental silicosis.Methods Thirty rats were randomly divided into three group: A, B and C. An intratracheal injection of 50 mg silica in 1 ml of sterile saline was given in group A and B, and in group C the same amount of normal saline was injected into trachea following the anesthesia with ether. Fifteen days later, the animals were anesthetized with an intraperitoneal injection of pentobarbital sodium 30 mg/kg. After endotracheal intubation through a trachotomy, three animals were connected in parallel to a pressure controlled ventilator. The respiratory frequency was set at 28 bpm with a 50% inspiration time, and 100% oxygen was used as the inspiratory gas. Throughout the experiment, the peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) was fixed at 2.45 kPa (25 cm H 2O) and the end expiratory pressure (PEEP) at 0.69 kPa (7.0 cm H 2O). Group A and C was lavaged 10 times respectively and group B was lavaged 20 times. Arterial blood gases, tidal volume, pressure volume and lung lavage fluid constituents were assessed. Results Arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO 2 ) in group C was higher than that in group A and B before lavage, increased significantly in group A and decreased significantly in group B and C after lavage, but arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO 2 ) rose gradually in group B and C . The vary amount of PaO 2 and PaCO 2 of group C was more significant than of group B. Tidal volume in group C was higher than that in group A and B before lavage, decreased significantly after lavage in group B and C. There were significant differences among three groups in pressure volume ratio. Protein concentrations in lung lavage fluid of group A and B were much higher than of group C, but phospholipid concentrations in lung lavage fluid had no different.Conclusions Lung lavage can improve respiratory function of early experimental silicosis. Unsuitable lavage may cause respiratory dysfunction.

Objective To evaluate the clinical significance of measuring IL-13 in serum and dynamics of pulmonary function in infants with bronchiolitis.Methods A total of 50 infants with bronchiolitis(30 in acute phase,20 in recovery phase) and 20 infants in healthy controls were recruited into this study.IL-13 level in serum were detected with Sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),at the same time the object′s respiratory function were tested,then the above indexes were compared.Results The level of serum IL-13 in recovery phase of bronchiolitis was significantly lower than that in acute phase of bronchiolitis and those of both 2 groups were significantly higher than that in control group(all P0.05).Conclusions IL-13 plays a role in pathogenesis in infants with bronchiolitis.The reduction of level of IL-13 will contribute to recovery of infants with bronchiolitis.During the acute phase of bronchiolitis higher resistance can be seen.

Objective To investigate the characteristics and risk factors of abdominal lymph node metastasis in thoracic esophageal squamous cell cancer.Methods The clinical data of 586 patients with thoracic esophageal cancer who underwent surgery via transabdominal and transthoracic approaches between June 2009 and June 2014 at the Sichuan Cancer Hospital were retrospectively analyzed.All the patients received resection of esophageal cancer and lymph node dissection, and the transabdominal right thoracic approach or cervico-thoracicabdominal triple incision was selected according to the condition of patients.No.18, 19, 20 lymph nodes were dissected seperately and No.16, 17 and lesser curvature lymph nodes were separated.All the specimens of lymph nodes were detected by regular pathological examination.Measurement data with normal distribution were presented as x ± s and count data were described as rate.Comparisons of rate between 2 specimens and among the multiple specimens were respectively analyzed using the chi-square test and partition of chi-squared.The multivariate analysis was done using the logistic regression.Results The number of lymph node dissected in 586 patients was 12 524 with an average number of 20 ± 11 per case, and the rate of lymph node metastasis was 55.63％ (326/586).The number of mediastinal lymph node dissected was 7 012 with an average number of 12 ± 5 per case, and a rate of mediastinal lymph node metastasis was 40.96％ (240/586).The number of abdominal lymph node dissected was 5 512 with an average number of 9 ± 8 per case, and a metastasis rate was 31.74％ (186/586).The abdominal lymph node metastasis rate of the upper, middle and lower thoracic esophageal cancer were 13.73％ (14/102), 31.51％ (92/292) and 41.67％ (80/192), respectively, showing a significant difference among the above 3 indexes (x2 =25.91, P ＜ 0.05).The lymph node metastasis rate in No.16, 17, 18,19, 20 and lesser curvature lymph nodes were 12.80％ (75/586), 16.89％ (99/586), 1.71％ (10/586),0.68％ (4/586), 1.71％ (10/586) and 2.05％ (12/586), respectively, with a significant difference among the above 6 indexes (x2 =287.95, P ＜ 0.05).The results of univariate analysis showed that the tumor location,surgical procedure, T stage, N stage, G stage, pathological stage and mediastinal lymph node metastasis were risk factors affecting abdominal lymph node metastasis of thoracic esophageal cancer (x2 =24.02, 23.97, 37.87,136.85, 38.79, 7.70, 154.27, P ＜ 0.05).The tumor in the lower thoracic portion, N3 stage and stage Ⅳ were independent risk factors affecting abdominal lymph node metastasis of thoracic esophageal cancer in the multivariate analysis (RR =5.80, 2.36, 2.76, 95％ confidence interval: 1.022-1.813, 1.317-3.950, 1.652-12.351, P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Abdominal lymph node metastasis is common in thoracic esophageal cancer in which No.16 and 17 lymph nodes predominate, and it is easy to occur in patients with lower thoracic esophageal cancer, and advanced N stage and pathological type.

Objective To observe the location of pelvic organs, the morphology and function of levator ani muscle (LAM) in primiparous women post vaginal delivery at 6 months postpartum using static and dynamic MRI, and investigate the correlation between LAM injury and pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Methods A perspective analysis of static and dynamic MRI was performed in fifty-one primiparous women post vaginal delivery at 6 months postpartum and thirty-five nulliparous women without experience of pregnancy and delivery as control group from June 2014 to January 2015. Previous pregnancy and abortion history, previous pelvic surgery and pelvic mass diseases were excluded. Cases with pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms were excluded from the control group. All of the women underwent static and dynamic MRI. The primiparous group was divided into two groups on presence or absence of POP on MRI findings:primiparous POP group and primiparous control group. The levatorani scoring system based on static MRI was used to characterize morphological changes of LAM into none, minor and major injury by the total score of bilateral LAM. A series of parameters including H line (the distance between the inferior margin of pubic symphysis to anorectal junction), M line (the perpendicular distance between the distal end of H line to pubococcygeal line), levator plate angle (LPA), iliococcygeal angle (ICA), and levator hiatus length and area were measured on static and dynamic MR images. Fisher exact test was performed to compare difference in distribution of the LAM injury between the primiparous group and control group, as well as the primiparous POP group and primiparous control group. Independent sample t test or Mann-Whitney test was used to compare difference in LAM parameters between the primiparous POP group and primiparous control group. Results In the 51 cases primiparous group, 44 cases showed none injury, whilst 5 cases with minor and 2 cases with major injury in the puborectal muscle. Thirty two cases showed none injury, whilst 10 cases with minor and 9 cases with major injury in the iliococcygeal muscle. In the 35 cases control group, none injury was shown in puborectal muscle, whilst 32 cases with none, 2 cases with minor and 1 case with major injury in the iliococcygeal muscle. There was no significant difference in the puborectal muscle injury between the two groups (P=0.203), and there was significant difference in the iliococcygeal muscle injury between the two groups (P<0.05). In the 24 cases primiparous POP group, 20 cases showed none injury, whilst 2 cases with minor and 2 cases with major injury in the puborectal muscle. Fourteen cases showed none injury, whilst 6 cases with minor and 4 cases with major injury in the iliococcygeal muscle. In the 27 cases primiparous control group, 24 cases showed none and 3 cases with minor injury in the puborectal muscle, whilst 18 cases with none, 4 cases with minor and 5 cases with major injury in the iliococcygeal muscle. There was no significant difference in the puborectal muscle injury and iliococcygeal muscle injury between the two groups (P=0.588 and 0.559, respectively). The LH during Valsalva status in primiparous POP group and primiparous control group were (6.7 ± 1.1) and (5.0 ± 0.6) cm, respectively, whilst the LHA was (41.6 ± 12.6) and (24.2 ± 5.5) cm2. There were significant difference between the corresponding groups (P=0.042 and 0.004, respectively). There was no significant difference between the corresponding groups of the other LAM parameters on static and dynamic MRI (all P>0.05). Conclusion Vaginal delivery may cause various degrees of LAM injury, the LAM functional deficiency were observed in primiparous women combined with POP.

Objective To analyze the MRI characteristics of cavernous angioma of the epidural space in spine.Methods MR imaging features of cavernous angioma of epidural space in 3 cases confirmed by surgery-pathology were analysed with literature review . Results Among the three cases,the tumors located in the lumbar spine in one and in the thoracic spine in 2.The tumors were all at posterior to the spinal cord and shuttle-shaped,the major axis was consistent with the spinal ordinate axis,the corresponding plane spinal cords were compressed and resulting in distortion and shift.The tumors were high signal intensity on T_2WI,and obviously homogeneous enhanced after Gd-DTPA administration. Conclusion MRI examination is the best method to diagnose this kind of disease.

Purpose:To evaluate intraoperative block of abdomial aorta(BAA) in surgery of sacral and pelvic tumors as a useful adjuvant technique.Methods:Of 164 cases of pelvic tumor who underwent resections and hemisections, the procedures in 94 cases were non block of abdominal aorta(NBAA);in 109 cases of sacral tumors various extents of acrectomy was done,53 cases had NBAA,56 cases had BAA.Results:In the pelvic tumor group, the size of tumors for BAA were on the average bigger than NBAA by 0.8 cm, the operation was shortened by 2 h, the dose of hemorrhage decreased by 2 200 ml. The complications of operation were reduced by 6.3%, death rate reduced by 4.6%. In the sacral tumor group, the size of tumors for BAA were on the average bigger than NBAA by 0.7 cm, the operation was shortened by 1 h and 40 min, the dose of hemorrhage decrease by 1 600 ml. The complications of operations were reduced by 23%, death rate reduced by 7.5%.Conclusions:The adoption of BAA adjuvant technique can reduce the intraoperative hemorrhage,the death rate, and the complications of operation, while also shortening the surgical operating time, and is a valuable clinical technique. [

Objective To explore clinic effect and advantages of the free arm lateral neurocutaneous flap in repairing cutaneous defects of opisthenar.Methods Between July,2012 and December,2013,12 patients with skin and soft tissue defects in opisthenar caused by trauma factor,accident,machine injury,hot crush injury etc were treated with free arm lateral neurocutaneous flap at our institution.Vessels both in recipient and donor site were detect-ed by color Doppler ultrasound preoperatively.Relative cutaneous nervers were reserved in the flap during selective operation.The flap size resected range from 6 cm × 4 cm to 10 cm × 6 cm.The posterior cutaneous nerve of the forearm were included in the flap to restore sensory sesation after transection.The wound in the donor site was closed in in-tradermal suture primarily.Postoperative algesia,touch,temperature sensation,Weber test of flap were tested and reco-rded.The critia of follow-up in this study were donor site morbidity,abnormal sensations,functional outcomes and sat-isfaction.Results The success rate was 100 percent in the series cases.The average length of follow up was 35 months (range,24 to 41 months).The wound in recipient area healed primarily and flaps showed no pigmentation but fine overall appearance,texture,and elasticity.The functional recovery of protective sensation was S3+ in 4 cases,S3 in 6,S2 in 2.Patients with liner scar in donor site were higly satisfied with the flaps for the sake of no significant joint functional outcomes.In terms of sensory sesation,the excellent and good rate of flap reached to 83 percent.Conclusion The free arm lateral flap represented a constant vascular anatomy,rich blood supply.Easy dissection,pliable texture,skin colour close to dorsum of hand and the possibility to be innervated through the posterior cutaneous nerve of the arm acceptable donor side morbidity provide a good option for the reconstruction of cutaneous defects of opisthena.

To explore the new method of discriminating Cistanche deserticola, Cynomorium songaricum and Orobanche pycnostachya by using PCR amplification of specific alleles. 30 samples of the different C. deserticola, 21 samples of C. songaricum and O. pycnostachya were collected. The total DNA of the samples were extracted, the ITS sequences from C. deserticola, C. songaricum and O. pycnostachya were amplified by PCR and sequenced unidirectionally. These sequences were aligned by using ClustulW. Specific primer was designed according to the ITS sequences of specific alleles, and PCR reaction system was optimized. Additionally, compare with the identification of specific PCR method and DNA sequence analysis method. The result showed that the 331 bp identification band for C. deserticola and the adulterants not amplified bands by a single PCR reaction, which showed good identification ability to the three species. PCR amplification of specific alleles can be used to identify C. deserticola, C. songaricum and O. pycnostachya successfully.
Alleles ; Cistanche ; classification ; genetics ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; DNA, Intergenic ; genetics ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of n-butanol extract from Potentilla anserina (NP) intervention on hypoxia-induced Ca2+ overload and SERCA2 expression of rat cardiomyocytes.MethodsPrimary cultured myocardial cell from SD neonatal rat (1-3 d) was used in the establishment of hypoxia model.After hypoxia for 3 h,the Ca2+ concentration of myocardial cells was measured with fura-2/AM fluorescent probe,and the biochemical indicator intracellular Ca2+-ATPase was examined and the mRNA and its protective protein levels of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+-ATPases (SERCA2) were assayed with RT-PCR,Western-blotting,and immune-cytochemical staining in each group.ResultsThe results showed that NP decreased Ca2+ concentration,increased the activity of Ca2+-ATPase,and improved the mRNA and protein expression of SERCA2 in hypoxia-injured myocardial cells as compared with the model group.ConclusionThese results indicate that NP could attenuate the Ca2+ overload.The mechanism might be explained as that NP could elevate the SERCA2 level,increase the activity of myocardium in rats,and further enhance the capacity of SR Ca2+ re-uptake.