Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of different doses of warm needling in treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Method Sixty-seven KOA patients were randomized into group A of 16 cases, group B of 17 cases, group C of 18 cases, and group D of 16 cases. Group A, B, and C were intervened by warm needling, 1 moxa cone for group A, 2 cones for group B, and 3 cones for group C. Group D was intervened by intra-articular injection with Sodium hyaluronate. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale (LKSS) were evaluated before and after intervention.Result The VAS and LKSS scores were significantly changed in the four groups after intervention (P<0.01). After intervention, the VAS and LKSS scores in group B and C were significantly different from that in group A (P<0.05,P<0.01). After intervention, the VAS and LKSS scores in group B and C were significantly different from that in group D (P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Warm needling is an effective method in treating KOA, and warm needling with 2 moxa cones can produce the best effect.

Glutamate is an essential excitatory neurotransmitter which regulates brain functions.An increase in extracellular glutamate could excessively activate ionotropic glutamate receptors,initiate calcium overload,and lead to cell death after cerebral ischemia.Glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) is one of the major glutamate transporters expressed predominantly in astrocytes.Astrocytes also express the enzyme glutamine synthetase (GS) which converts the glutamate to glutamine; the latter is then 'recycled' into neurons.Pretreatment with ceftriaxone (CEF),ischemia and intermittent hypobaric hypoxia could lead to neuroprotection by increasing the expression of GLT-1 and regulating the activity of glutamate transporter in brain.

Lipoxins, metabolites of arachidonic acid , are a strong“braking signal” towards inflammatory reac-tion.Due to their anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving properties , lipoxins have emerged to be the central targets in the re-search on inflammation .The present article reviews the research advances of synthesis , biological effects and the protective role of lipoxins in the diseases of liver , pancreas , stomach and colorectum , thus providing a novel approach for the treat-ment of digestive diseases .

Ten autopsy cases of bronchiole-alveolar carcinoma (BAC) were reported. Grossly, BAC may be divided into 3 types, i. e. finely nodular, coarsely nodular and diffuse type. Histologic pattern falls into 2 categories: ' (1) alveolar type, (2) papillary type. Metastasis is most frequently mediated through lymphatics, spreading to the regional lymph nodes. Next, they are spread by blood stream. Brain (meningeal carcinomatosis),bone and adrenal glands are the frequent metastasized sites. Pulmonary fibrosis and scar formation seem to be the predisposing factors to BAC.

Objective To study the safety and efficacy of intensive reduction of blood pressure for the treatment of acute cerebral haemorrhage. Method A randomized control trial in 41 consecutive patients with intracerebral haemorrhage admitted from October 2006 to January 2007 were randomly assigned to intensive blood pressure reduction group ( n = 24) or guidelines blood pressure reduction group ( n = 17) (tho guidelines set by American Association of cardiologists). In the intensive reduction group, the systolic pressure was reduced immediately to lower than 140 mmHg, while the blood pressure was reduced to that just below 180 mmHg in guideline reduction group. The size of the haematoma was measured 24 h after treatment by CT scans and the patients were followed up for 90 days. Death and/or disability in 90 days, and the short-term and long-term neurological function and the size of haematoma in 24 hours of two groups were compared. The outcomes were statistically analyzed with SPSS version 10.0 software. Measurement data were analyzed with t -test while numeration data were analyzed with chisquare test. Results There were no significant differences either in death and/or disability or in short-term and long-term neurological function in 90 days after treatment ( P ＞ 0.05). The mean values of proportional enlargement of haematoma were 16.8% in the intensive group and 36. 1% in the guidelines group 24 hours after treatment ( P = 0.012). The mean values of absolute enlargement of haematoma of two groups were 2.7 mL and 5. 1 mL,respectively (P = 0.058). There was significant difference in rate of enlargement of haematoma in the early stage of acute cerebral haemorrhage (4.2% vs. 47. 1%, P = 0.012). Conclusions Although intensive reduction of blood pressure in patients with acute cerebral haemorrhage did not alter the clinical prognosis of patients, it could apparently attenuate the enlargement of haematoma in the early stage of acute cerebral haemorrhage.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intra-arterial thrombolysis with urokinase and intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) for acute ischemic stroke. Methods A total of 43 patients with acute ischemic stroke within 6 hours of onset were included, 31 of them underwent superselective intra-arterial thrombolysis in the intra-arterial thrombolysis group and 12 of them underwent intravenous thrombolysis with rtPA in the intravenous thrombolysis group. Vascular recanalization was observed in the intra-arterial thrombolysis group, and the modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores at day 90 were used to evaluate the outcomes in both groups. Results Eighteen patients (58.1%) had complete recanalization and 7 (22.6%) had partial recanalization in the intra-arterial thrombolysis group. The recanalization rate was 80.6%, 3 complicated symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, and 1 died. There vere no significant differences between the good outcome rate (74.2% vs. 66.7%, x2 =0.24, P=0.622) and the incidence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage at 90 d (9. 68% vs. 8. 33%, x2 =0. 19, P =0. 892). Conclusions Urokinase intra arterial thrombolysis within the time window can significantly improve the recanalization rate of the occluded vessels and improve the clinical symptoms of the patents in acute phase and long term outcomes. Their short-term efficacy and long-term outcomes are almost the same with intrave nous thrombolysis with rtPA.

The aim of this study is to clone the mouse T-bet promoter and enhancer, construct and identify the firefly luciferase reporter gene plasmid pGL4.10-TBX21pr-CNS for T-bet transcription regulation study and its function in signaling of multiple sclerosis. The promoter and CNS of T-bet were predicted by bioinformatics assay. The predicted fragment of mouse T-bet promoter plus CNS was amplified by PCR and cloned into pGL4.10. The recombinant plasmid pGL4.10-TBX21pr-CNS was transferred into Escherichia coli DH5α. The positive clone was identified by double digestion with Kpn I and Sfi I and DNA sequencing. Finally, pGL4.10-TBX21pr-CNS was cotransfected with pRL-TK into 293T cells and Jurkat cells, pRL-TK and pGL4.10 as a control. The luciferase activity in 293T cells (P = 0.012 2) and Jurkat cells (P = 0.002 2) was higher than that of the control group. A fragment of 1 028 bp mouse T-bet promoter plus 1 308 bp CNS was successfully cloned and the firefly luciferase reporter gene plasmid pGL4.10-TBX21pr-CNS was constructed. In 293T cells and Jurkat cells, pGL4.10-TBX21pr-CNS has the promoter functions. This work offers a basic material for the research of T-bet transcription.
Animals ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genes, Reporter ; Genetic Vectors ; Luciferases ; Mice ; Multiple Sclerosis ; Plasmids ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; T-Box Domain Proteins ; genetics

Objective To investigate edaravane in prevention of restenosis in rat common catery arteries balloon angioplasty and the possible mechanism of this process. Methods Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: treatment group (whose intima was injured by balloon and was given edaravone 3 mg/kg by peritoneal injection, bid) and control group (whose intima was injured by ballon and was given the same volume NS as edaravone). 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28 days after angioplasty, rats were killed and the local arteries were sectioned for analysis of pathological morphology and the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Results Small amounts of smooth muscle cell appeared at the intima of blood vessel 3 days after the artery injured by balloon. Consecutive intima was formed 7 days after artery injury. The intima was even or uneven thickened and the lumen of artery was significant stenosed 14 and 28 days afterwards. In the control group, the intimal area reached (0.240±0.043) mm2, the intima hyperplasy index were 0.52±0.06, stenosis ratio were 30%±9% 14 days afterwards. The intimal area were (0.420±0.063 )mm2, the intima hyperplasy index were 0.67± 0.07, stenosis ratio were 54%±9% on day 28. In the treatment group, the intimal area were (0.063± 0.025)mm2, the intima hyperplasy index were 0.24±0.07, stenosis ratio were 8%±3% after 14 days. The intimal area were (0.116±0.023) mm2, the intima hyperplasy index were 0.38±0.05, stenosis ratio were 16%±4% after 28 days. Compared with control group at the same time, the intimal area (F values were 50.488 and 81.119 respectively, P < 0.05 ), the intima hyperplasy index ( F values were 41.743 and 48.122 respectively, P<0.05) and stenosis ratio (F values were 24.221 and 81.119 respectively, P< 0.05) were decreased in treatment group. The expressions of MMP-2 raised after balloon injury. In control group, the expressions of MMP-2 were 27.16%±7.15% after 3 days, 22.59%±6.68% after 7 days, 18.85%±4.91% after 14 days. In the treatment group, it decreased to 15.57%±3.62% after 3 days, 12.91%±1.88% after 7 days. Compared with control group, the expressions of MMP-2 in treatment group were lower after 3 days and 7 days ( F = 8.359, P = 0.028 and F = 7.781, P = 0.032 ). Conclusions Edaravone can prevent restenosis in rat common catery after balloon angioplasty. The possible mechanism is that edaravone can inhibit the expressions of MMP-2 in this process.

Objective To explore the clinical and electroencephalographic characteristics of frontal lobe ep- ilepsy(FLE).Methods The clinical and electroencephalographic data of 80 patients with FLE were analyzed.Re- suits The seizure types of frontal lobe epilepsy were simple focal seizure-complex focal seizure and secondary gen- eral tonic.clonic seizure.Seizures were often exhibited in relatively short duration,hyper motor,tonic or postural.Fre- quent nocturnal attacks and slight postictal mental confusion was increased.Interictal EEG manifested sharps or spikes or slow wave in the frontal area.Ictal EEG showed paroxysm rhythms.Conclusion FLE is a distinct epilepsy syndrome.

Tumor cell invasion and metastasis are associated with the proteolytic activity of various types of proteinases.Among them,cathepsin D,which is a lysosomal proteinase,has received more attention recently.Various studies have shown that the lysosomal aspartic protease cathepsin D is over-expressed and hyper-secreted by numerous cancer cell lines.Indeed it plays an essential role in the multiple steps of tumor progression,in stimulating cancer cell proliferation,tumor invasion and metastasis,fibroblast outgrowth and angiogenesis,as well as in inhibiting tumor apoptosis.In addition,CD is also a key mediator of induced- apoptosis.The aim of this article is to review the current knowledge on Cathepsin D action in cancer progression and metastasis,as well as its dual function in apoptosis.