OBJECTIVETo compare the effect of citric acid stimulation on salivary alpha-amylase (sAA), total protein (TP), salivary flow rate, and pH value between Pi deficiency (PD) children and healthy children, thereby providing evidence for Pi controlling saliva theory.

METHODSTwenty PD children were recruited, and 29 healthy children were also recruited at the same time. Saliva samples from all subjects were collected before and after citric acid stimulation. The sAA activity and amount, TP contents, salivary flow rate, and pH value were determined and compared.

RESULTS(1) Citric acid stimulation was able to significantly increase salivary flow rate, pH value, sAA activities, sAA specific activity and sAA amount (including glycosylated and non-glycosylated sAA amount) in healthy children (P<0.05), while it could markedly increase salivary flow rate, pH value, and glycosylated sAA levels in PD children (P<0.05); (2) Although there was no statistical difference in determined salivary indices between the two groups (P>0.05), salivary indices except salivary flow rate and glycosylated sAA levels decreased more in PD children. There was statistical difference in sAA activity ratio, sAA specific activity ratio, and the ratio of glycosylated sAA levels between PD children and healthy children (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONPD children had decreased response to citric acid stimulation.

Child ; Citric Acid ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Saliva ; Salivary alpha-Amylases ; metabolism ; alpha-Amylases

OBJECTIVETo explore the best program for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) of constipation type.

METHODSNinety-five cases of IBS were randomly divided into 3 groups. Group A (n = 30) were treated by acupuncture combined with microorganism pharmaceutical preparations, group B (n = 35) by oral administration of medicine for loosening the bowel to relieve constipation plus microorganism pharmaceutical preparations, and group C (n = 30) by simple acupuncture.

RESULTSThe total effective rates were 90.0%, 77.2% and 66.7%, in the group A, B and C, respectively, with a very significant differences as the group A compared with those in the groups B, C (P < 0.01), and with no significant difference as the group B compared with that of the group C (P > 0. 05). The intestinal available bacteria, bilidobacteria and lactobacillus, increased and enteric bacilli decreased in varying degrees in the 3 groups.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture combined with microorganism pharmaceutical preparations has a better therapeutic effect on irritable bowel syndrome of constipation type.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Constipation ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Intestines ; microbiology ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; microbiology ; therapy ; Male ; Probiotics ; therapeutic use

Using the weight-average molecular weight 50 000 polylactic acid (PLA) as a carrier, and a certain proportion of erythromycin (EM) and prednisone acetate (PNA) to mixed prepare the compound erythromycin sustained release preparation (sustained-release tablets). Using ultraviolet spectrophotometry and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to detect separately the release amount of EM and PNA in vitro medium. The sustained-release tablets release for about 21 days, the average content of EM is 99.7 mg/table, RSD = 0.82%; and the average content of PNA is 10.03 mg/table, RSD = 0.93%. Within 21 days, the cumulative releases of EM and PNA are 86.1% and 78.3%, respectively. The drug release is steady and slow after 5 days, the burst release phenomenon in early stage is more significant. The results showed that the sustained-release tablet preparation method is feasible, the release performance is good and the clinical efficacy is significant.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Combinations ; Erythromycin ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; administration & dosage ; Polyesters ; Polymers ; administration & dosage ; Prednisone ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Sinusitis ; drug therapy ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet ; Tablets

Objective To observe the effect of stage-based acupuncture-moxibustion therapy on the endometrial thickness in patients suffering from repeated implantation failure in IVF-ET (in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer). Method Seventy-two patients suffering from repeated implantation failure in IVF-ET were randomized into two groups. Thirty-six cases in the treatment group were intervened by stage-based acupuncture-moxibustion therapy plus oral administration of Estradiol valerate tablets; the other 36 cases in the control group were prescribed with oral administration of Estradiol valerate tablets alone. The implantation result of IVF-ET was analyzed 3 cycles later. The endometrial thickness was compared before and after the intervention. Result The endometrial thickness of the non-pregnant women increased after the treatment in both groups (P<0.05), and the increase in the treatment group was more significant than that in the control group (P<0.05). The clinical pregnancy rate in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Stage-based acupuncture-moxibustion therapy can improve the endometrial thickness, promote the growth of endometrium, benefit the implantation of embryo, and enhance the clinical pregnancy rate.

OBJECTIVETo study myocardial injury and inflammatory response within 7 days after interventional therapy in children with congenital heart disease (CHD).

METHODSA total of 77 children with CHD, including 12 cases of ventricular septal defect (VSD), 14 cases of atrial septal defect (ASD), 14 cases of pulmonary stenosis (PS) and 37 cases of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), were enrolled. The levels of myocardial enzyme (AST, CK and CKMB), cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and CRP in serum were measured before operation, immediately after operation, and 6 hrs, 24 hrs, 72 hrs and 7 days after operation.

RESULTSSerum AST levels in the VSD group were significantly higher than the other CHD groups immediately after operation, and 6 hrs and 24 hrs after operation (P<0.05). There were significant differences in serum CK and CKMB levels among the four CHD groups immediately and 6 hrs after operation (P<0.05), and the highest serum CK and CKMB levels were found in the VSD group. Serum CRP levels in the PDA group were significantly higher than the other CHD groups 72 hrs and 7 days after operation (P<0.05). Compared with before operation, serum AST levels increased significantly in all four CHD groups 6 and 24 hrs after operation groups (P<0.05). Serum CK and CKMB levels increased significantly in the VSD group immediately and 6 hrs after operation (P<0.05). Serum cTnI levels increased significantly in the VSD, PDA and PS groups immediately and 6 hrs after operation (P<0.05). The PDA group showed increased CRP levels 24 hrs, 72 hrs and 7 days after operation (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMinor myocardial injury can be noted within 7 days after interventional therapy in children with CHD and mainly occurs between immediately and 24 hrs after operation. The injury is more significant in VSD cases. The interventional therapy does not cause significant inflammation.

Adolescent ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Creatine Kinase, MB Form ; blood ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; pathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Infant ; Inflammation ; etiology ; Male ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Troponin I ; blood

To explore therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined electrical stimulation on aged patients with post‐stroke depression .Methods : A total of 78 patients with post‐stroke depression were randomly and equally divided into routine treatment group (received health education based on routine treatment ) and combined treatment group (received acupuncture combined low‐frequency electrical stimulation based on routine treatment group ).After four‐week treatment , score of Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAMD) and therapeutic effect were compared between two groups .Results : Compared with before treatment , there was significant reduction in HAMD score in two groups after treatment ;compared with routine treatment group after treatment , there was significant reduction in HAMD score [(19.72 ± 2. 04) scores vs.(14. 94 ± 1. 86) scores] in combined treatment group , P＝0. 001 all.To‐tal effective rate of combined treatment group was significantly higher than that of routine treatment group (87.18% vs.64.1%, P＝0.018).Conclusion : Acupuncture combined low‐frequency electrical stimulation possesses significant therapeutic effect on post‐stroke depression , which is worthy of clinical application .

AIM:To explore whether there is synergistic effect of recombinant human endostatin ( rh-Endo ) and paclitaxel (Pac) in the time window of vascular normalization and the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in early assessment of chemotherapy by observing the response of human triple -negative breast cancer ( TNBC) to Pac after vascular normalization in nude mice .METHODS:The human TNBC MDA-MB-231 cells were planted in the subcutaneous region of right lower abdomen of BALB/c-nu female nude mice .These nude mice were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=7).rh-Endo was given for 17 consecutive days in rh-Endo group and rh-Endo+Pac group.Pac was given on the 6th and 12th days in Pac group and rh-Endo+Pac group.The dosage of both drugs was 10 mg· kg-1· d-1(ip).On the day before the treatment and the 5th, 11th and 17th days after treatment, all the transplanted tumors were examined by MRI . All the mice were killed by cervical dislocation and their transplanted tumors were taken down for examinations after the last MRI on the 17th day.The changes of pathology, immunohistochemisty, microvessel density (MVD) and Ki67 expression were measured.RESULTS:On the 17th day, the volume of transplanted tumor in rh-Endo+Pac group was smaller than that in model group and rh-Endo group ( P<0.05 ) , and no difference between rh-Endo+Pac group and Pac group was found.On the 17th day, the tumor inhibitory rates in rh-Endo group, Pac group and rh-Endo+Pac group were 14.61%, 39.08%and 54.79%, respectively.The slow diffusion coefficient in Pac group was increased compared with model group , while it was decreased compared with rh-Endo+Pac group (P<0.05).No distant metastatic lesion in the tumor-bearing mice was observed .The necrotic rates in rh-Endo+Pac group and Pac group were higher than those in model group and rh-Endo group.The MVD in model group was higher than that in the other 3 groups.The MVD in rh-Endo+Pac group was decreased compared with Pac group and rh-Endo group .The Ki67 level in rh-Endo+Pac group was decreased compared with rh-Endo group , and no difference between rh-Endo+Pac group and Pac group was detected .CONCLUSION:In the time window of vascular normalization , the combination of Pac and rh-Endo has a significant antitumor effect on TNBC , but this study did not observe a significant synergistic effect of the 2 drugs.The change of slow diffusion coefficient can predict the therapeutic effect in advance .

OBJECTIVETo explore the underlying mechanism of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transfer induced cardiac function improvement in failing hearts.

METHODSCongestive heart failure (CHF) was induced in rats by cauterization of the heart wall. MSCs were cultured from autologous bone marrow and injected into the border zone and the remote myocardium 5 days after cauterization.

RESULTSTen weeks later, cardiomyocyte nucleus mitotic index, capillary density and expression of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were significantly increased in the border zone and significantly reduced in the remote myocardium in CHF rats (all P<0.05 vs. sham). Besides cardiac function improvement and left ventricular remodeling attenuation evidenced by hemodynamic and echocardiographic examinations, expressions of IGF-1, HGF and VEGF in the remote myocardium and in the border zone were also significantly upregulated (P<0.05 or P<0.01 vs. CHF), and cardiomyocyte nucleus mitotic index as well as capillary density were significantly increased in CHF rats with MSCs (P<0.05 or P<0.01 vs. CHF). Moreover, collagen area was significantly reduced and myocardial area was significantly increased in the border zone in these rats too.

CONCLUSIONAutologous MSC implantation upregulated expressions of growth factors enhanced cardioangiogenesis which might be the underlying mechanisms for improved cardiac function and attenuated left ventricular remodeling induced by MSCs transplantation in failing rat myocardium.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Heart Failure ; metabolism ; therapy ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Ventricular Remodeling

OBJECTIVETo detect micrometastasis in regional lymph nodes using RT- PCR assay and evaluate the significance of the new assessment of nodal status in determining pN staging in gastric carcinoma.

METHODSIn addition to HE,RT- PCR assay for cytokeratin-20 gene marker was used to detect micrometastasis in 850 lymph nodes from 30 patients with gastric carcinoma who underwent gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy from Dec. 2003 to Apr. 2004.

RESULTSThe detection rate of HE staining was 27.1% (233/850), the detection rate of RT-PCR assay was 36.5% (310/850) (Pa< 0.01). Lymph node micrometastasis was further detected in 77 nodes from 14 patients. The detection rate of RT- PCR assay from the routine negative lymph nodes was 12.5% (77/617). Seven of those patients were up- staged (from IB stage to II stage, from IB stage to III A stage, from I stage to III A stage, from III A stage to III B stage, from III A stage to IV stage in one patient respectively, and from III B stage to IV stage in 2 patients).

CONCLUSIONRT- PCR assay can increase the detection rate of lymph node metastasis and have a significant impact on the staging system of gastric carcinoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology

The purpose of this study was to investigate the vasorelaxing effect and mechanism of idoxifene (a new estrogen receptor modulator) on human internal mammary artery (HIMA). HIMA segments were harvested from men during coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Patients with diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, or smoking habit were excluded. The vasorelaxing effect of idoxifene on artery rings from HIMA with and without endothelium was measured by means of perfusion in vitro. Cumulative dose-response to idoxifene in the range of 0.01-10 micromol/L was observed in the presence and absence of NO synthase inhibitor L-NAME. It was also studied whether the vasodilation effect of idoxifene on HIMA was blocked by methylene blue (MB), an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase (GC). The results obtained from idoxifene were compared with those from 17beta-estradiol (E(2)). It was found that idoxifene caused a concentration-dependent relaxation on HIMA. The dose range was from 0.03 micromol/L (minimal vasodilatory concentration) to 3 mmol/L (maximal vasodilatory concentration). It was also found that the vasorelaxation effect of idoxifene on HIMA was dependent on endothelium. E(2) (0.1-100 micromol/L) also resulted in an endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation, but the vessels were 15-fold less sensitive to E(2) than to idoxifene in their vasorelaxation responses. The EC(50) for E(2) was 4.65+/-0.34 micromol/L, compared with 0.32+/-0.02 micromol/L for idoxifene. The mean maximal vasodilatory value of E(2) was 88.3+/-5.7%, compared with 88.6+/-7.2% for idoxifene. Pretreatment with L-NAME (100micromol/L) abolished idoxifene-induced vasodilation virtually by blocking nitric oxide production. The vasorelaxing effect of idoxifene disappeared in the presence of MB (10 micromol/L). These findings demonstrate that idoxifene results in an endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation of HIMA, like estrogen. The effect of idoxifene is more potent than that of traditional estrogen, and is possibly mediated by NO-GC-cGMP pathway.
Estrogen Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Mammary Arteries ; drug effects ; physiology ; Tamoxifen ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Vasodilation ; drug effects