Objective To observe changes of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone (T) in umbilical vein blood between male and female neonates, and assess the effect of serum LH, FSH and T on fetal growth.Methods Umbilical vein blood was obtained from 130 neonates (64 females and 66 males) in the second hospital of changshu city. According to birth weight, 130 neonates were divided into 3 groups: macrosomia (n=28), intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) (n=31) and normal neonates (n=71). The serum levels of LH, FSH and T were measured by radioimmunoassay.Results 1.The levels of LH, FSH and T in umbilical vein blood were significantly higher in male neonates than those in females (P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of the mRNA expression level of excision repair cross-complementing group 1 (ERCC1) gene with clinicopathological parameters and clinical outcome in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving platinum-based chemotherapy.

METHODSThe mRNA expression of ERCC1 in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded primary tumor specimens was measured by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. The association between ERCC1 expression levels and clinicopathological parameters in NSCLC patients was analyzed.

RESULTSThe median value of ERCC1 mRNA expression level compared with beta-actin in tumor specimens of 61 NSCLC patients was 0.48. There was no correlation between ERCC1 expression and clinicopathological parameters. Patients with low expression of ERCC1 mRNA (less than 0.35, 0.28, respectively) had a significantly longer median time to progression (TTP) (14.3 vs. 8.0 months, P = 0.028) and overall survival (OS) (28.4 vs. 12.9 months, P = 0.0064) than those with high expression. Multivariate analysis showed that a low ERCC1 mRNA expression was an independent factor for OS.

CONCLUSIONOur findings suggest that intratumoral ERCC1 mRNA expression level, although is uncorrelated with clinicopathological parameters, is an independent predictive marker for survival of the patients with NSCLC receiving platinum-based chemotherapy, and may provide critical information for personalized chemotherapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Bone Neoplasms ; secondary ; Brain Neoplasms ; secondary ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; secondary ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease-Free Survival ; Endonucleases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Paraffin Embedding ; Platinum ; administration & dosage ; Proportional Hazards Models ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Survival Rate

Based on the literatures about the optimized effectiveness of the acupoint sticking therapy for diseases which are attacked in winter but are treated in summer, the main constituent elements of plaster, acupoints, the dose and the application time are reviewed and analyzed. It is suggested that the stepwise procedures are adoped to accumulate clinical evidence, standardize the technique instructions based on the clinical evidences, and perform high quality clinical trials.
Acupuncture Points ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Drug Therapy ; methods ; standards ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Seasons ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVETraditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a well established and time-honored practice in China, employing syndrome differentiation as a basis for the treatment of disease. According to different TCM syndrome typing findings, combining modern medical methods with TCM approaches can improve the quality of life and comprehensive effect on patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). This study investigated the relationship between TCM syndrome typing and imaging characterization to radiosensitivity as to provide objective evidence for the integration of Chinese and modern medical approaches in the treatment of NPC.

METHODSPrior to treatment, TCM syndrome typing, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed on 147 patients pathologically classified with NPC. The status of tumor remission was radiologically evaluated at accumulated doses of 20 Gy, 40 Gy and 60 Gy, and at 3 months after completion of radiotherapy. Statistical results were analyzed by the Friedman and K-W test procedures.

RESULTSPrior to treatment, TCM syndrome typing of NPC included Lung Heat, Blood Stasis, Phlegm Congealment and Blood Stasis-Phlegm Congealment. Lung Heat typing accounted for the highest proportion at 34.7% (51/147), followed by Phlegm Congealment at 32.7% (48/147), Blood Stasis at 17.0% (25/147) and Blood Stasis-Phlegm Congealment at 15.7% (23/147). Radiological imaging demonstrated a higher incidence of cervical lymph node metastases in Phlegm Congealment and Blood Stasis-Phlegm Congealment types (P<0.05), while Blood Stasis and Blood Stasis-Phlegm Congealment types were more prone to skull base invasion (P<0.05). Residual tumor size was larger in Blood Stasis and Blood Stasis-Phlegm Congealment types than in Lung Heat and Phlegm Congealment types after 3 months of treatment (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSDifferent radiological manifestations were observed in TCM syndrome typed NPC patients, with lesser radiosensitivity demonstrated in the Blood Stasis and the Blood Stasis-Phlegm Congealment types relative to the Lung Heat and Phlegm Congealment types.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; classification ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; radiotherapy ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm, Residual ; pathology ; Radiation Tolerance ; Skull Base ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE To explore the correlation between polymorphisms in the toll-like receptor 4 (rs1 927914, rs10759932 and rs1 1 536889) and susceptivity,gene expression,cytokines and blood lipid metabolism in southern Han Chinese with stroke due to wind-phlegm obstruction,qi deficiency and blood stasis.METHODS 559 stroke cases were divided into two groups based on case-control study method,with 248 cases in the qi deficiency and blood stasis group,31 1 cases in wind-phlegm obstruction group.In addition,another 605 cases were involved as the healthy control group with the corresponding gender and age.All the subjects were from the Han nationality.Sequenom MassARRAY technology was adopted for testing and genotyping of rs1 927914,rs10759932 and rs1 1 536889 in the toll-like receptor 4.Real-time fluorescence quantification (qPCR) was applied for examine mRNA expression.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detect the level of interleukin-1β(IL-1β),interleukin-6 (IL-6),interleukin-8 (IL-8),interleukin-12(IL-12) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α).HITACHI 7600 automatic biochemical analyzer was applied to test the total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),high den-sity lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL).RESULTS There existed a statistical differ-ence between the male cases of the qi deficiency and blood stasis group and male cases of the control group in the distribution of gene frequency of rs10759932(P <0.05).The locus polymorphism of both rs1 927914 (dominant model:OR =0.65,95%CI=0.43-0.96,Padj =0.031) and rs10759932 (dominant model:OR =0.64,95%CI =0.41 -0.99,Padj =0.046) were closely related with susceptivity of stroke male of qi deficiency and blood stasis type.The IL-8 level of male stroke patients of qi deficiency and blood stasis type with the rs10759932 TT genotype was much lower than those with CC+CT(P <0.01). Rs1 1 536889 polymorphism was notablely related to TG level(additive model:Padj =0.021,dominant model:Padj =0.013) and HDL level(dominant model:Padj = 0.032) in stroke patients of qi deficiency and blood stasis type.CONCLUSION TLR4 polymorphisms exert certain influence on the occurance of stroke due to qi deficiency and blood stasis in Han Chinese men and they have been involved in the inflammatory reaction and blood lipid metabolism.

ee of postpartum depression within 24 hours (P<0.01 ). Conclusions Postpartum rehabilitation massage can promote parturient physical and mental health, improve the quality of obstetric care and prevent and treat postpartum complications.

Pogostemon cablin is a famous southern medicine.As the important raw material for modern medicine and industry,Pogostemon cablin becomes required with a large marketing demand.However,due to the serious continuous cropping obstacles in the growth process of Pogostemon cablin,the aggravation of diseases of Pogostemon cablin and the degradation of its quality arose.This paper outlined the ecological factors such as climate factors,soil factors and topographic factors suitable for the growth of Pogostemon cablin,analyzed the continuous cropping obstacles and diseases arising in the cultivation,reviewed the current ecological planting mode of Pogostemon cablin such as crop rotation,intercropping,relay-cropping and under-forest planting,and also made a comprehensive evaluation of the economic benefits,ecological benefits and social benefits of the ecological planting mode of Pogostemon cablin,aiming to provide a theoretical basis and a reference for the promotion of the ecological planting mode of Pogostemon cablin.

OBJECTIVEFollowing the former report, we continue to observe the chronic renal tubular-interstitial injury induced by Radix Aristolochiae Fangchi Extract(RAFE) in rats in order to understand whether RAFE in different doses causes the renal tubular-interstitial injury or not.

METHODRAFE at the dose of 25.0 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), 120.0 mg kg(-1) x d(-1) and 200.0 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) and aristolochic acid (AA, 10.0 mg x kg(-1) d(-1)) was interruptedly administrated by gastric tube for 22 w and 4 w durg withdrawal. Blood, urine and kidney were taken out respectively in 17 w, 22 w and 26 w to measure the indexes of renal function. The morphology of kidney was observed, and Masson staining of kidney were made respectively to compare RAFE groups with AA group.

RESULTPathological changes of renal tissue forms were as follows: All RAFE groups and AA group could develop the pathological process of renal tubular injury-chronic renal interstitial fibrosis. The pathologic changes of RAFE were similar with AA.

CONCLUSIONRAFE at all doses administrated interruptedly by gastric tube above 13 w caused chronic renal tubulo-interstitium fibrosis. The renal injury in functions and tissue forms in rats were similar with AA closely. The results showed that AA was the main toxic composition of RAFE.

Animals ; Aristolochia ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Aristolochic Acids ; isolation & purification ; toxicity ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; toxicity ; Female ; Fibrosis ; blood ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Kidney Tubules ; pathology ; Male ; Nephritis, Interstitial ; blood ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Proteinuria ; chemically induced ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of schistosomiasis control by forbidding livestock denaturing on marshland with Oncomelania snails and to analyse its influencing factors.

METHODSThe village of Aiguo, Xinhe, Huangjia, Fanrong, Fengfu and Caomen and its respective nearby marshland, i.e., Aiguoniu, Liulingwei, Huangjianiu, Da, Goulian, and Litouzui, in Jinxian county, Jiangxi province were selected as the pilot areas for implementing the measures of forbidding livestock denaturing on the marshlands with Oncomelania snails during the period of the year 2005 to 2007. A total of 300 residents in each village were randomly chosen for stool examination with the Kato-Katz technique every year. The snail survey was carried out in spring and autumn every year on the marshlands close to the villages with systemic sampling method. The marshlands with a height 16.5 m above the sea level in Futian was selected for snail survey and planting with sesame. The residents aged 20 - 50 years old in Fengfu and Aiguo villages were studied by using questionnaire on the compliance of forbidding livestock pasturing on marshlands with Oncomelania snails.

RESULTSBefore implementation of the measures, human infection rate with Schistosoma japonicum was 11.35% (90/793) in Aiguo, 4.00% (12/300) in Xinhe, 4.00% (6/150) in Huangjia, 8.00% (12/150) in Fanrong, 3.17% (4/126) in Fengfu and 6.64% (14/211) in Caomen. After implementation in 2008, human schistsome infection rate in the aforementioned 6 villages was declined to 0.18% (1/551), 0.00% (0/348), 0.00% (0/316), 2.27% (7/308), 1.17% (5/428) and 1.16% (5/430), respectively. Only in Fengfu village the decline of the human prevalence was not significant (χ(2) = 2.4, P = 0.12), while in the other 5 villages, human prevalence rate had been declined significantly (χ(2) = 126.77, P < 0.01; χ(2) = 16.31, P < 0.01; χ(2) = 18.79, P < 0.01; χ(2) = 10.39, P < 0.01; χ(2) = 14.17, P < 0.01, respectively). Infected snails were not found in 5 out of the 6 marshlands close to the villages. Three infected snails were founded in Da marshland because of poor environmental isolation. Before planting, the living snail density was 0.063/0.11 m(2) (34/540), and after planting, the living snail density was 0.0074/0.11 m(2) (4/538), a 88.25% reduction (Z = 12.47, P < 0.01) was recorded through economy crop planting at Futiandaan marshland in 2008. A total of 986 pieces of questionnaire were provided, and 968 valid ones were collected. The results of questionnaire indicate that compliance of forbidding livestock denaturing on marshland with Oncomelania snails in Aiguo and Fengfu villages was 84.38% (216/256) and 75.42% (537/712), respectively. Using logistic regression model, knowledge level on harmfulness of livestock denaturing on marshland with Oncomelania snails, willingness of culture with machine to substitute traditional cattle culture, and willingness of investment to marshland culture development are 3 varieties that affect residents' implementation of forbidding livestock denaturing on marshland with Oncomelania snails.

CONCLUSIONThe infected snail density and human schistosome infection rate were reduced on the marshlands of well environmental isolation after 2 - 3 years implementation of forbidding livestock denaturing on marshlands with Oncomelania snails. The key influencing factors of forbidding livestock denaturing on marshland with Oncomelania snails are knowledge level on harmfulness of livestock denaturing on the snail infested marshlands, the willingness of machine culture to substitute cattle culture, and the willingness of investment to marshland culture development.

Adult ; Animal Husbandry ; methods ; Animals ; Cattle ; Environmental Restoration and Remediation ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Schistosomiasis ; prevention & control ; Young Adult

Acupuncture ; standards ; Acupuncture Therapy ; standards ; China ; Complementary Therapies ; standards ; Guideline Adherence ; Herpes Zoster ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; standards ; Risk Assessment ; Severity of Illness Index