Objective To investigate the effect of “Shuangguyitong acupuncture therapy on serum interleukin-6 of streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Methods Among seventy-three 180～220 g Wistar rats, thirteen were assigned as normal control group (group A) and sixty were induced diabetes by injecting STZ into celiac cavity. The diabetic rats were randomly divided into model group(group B), “Yitong” treatment group (group C), “Shuangguyitong” acupuncture group (group D) and common acupuncture group (group E). After two courses of treatment, serum IL-6 was tested by radioimmunoassay (RIA) . The blood glucose was measured by sugar equipment. Results The high blood glucose of the diabetic rats were lowered significantly in group D and E (P

Objective To study the function of ventrolateral medulla (VLM) in the treatment of rabbit myocardial ischemia by electroacupuncture at Neiguan point. Methods On the basis of the protection of rabbits against acute myocardial ischemia by electroacupuncture at Neiguan point,the action potential of rabbit's ischemic myocardial cell was observed after the VLM was blocked with Naloxone. Results Compared with the sham operation group, acute myocardial ischemia group and sham VLM block group,the ST segment potential remarkably increased and MAPA, MAPD_~50 ,MAPD_~90 significantly decreased in VLM block group. There were statistic significance(P

BACKGROUND: According to the thought "prevention of diseases", a conception of "strengthening the vital by acupuncture preconditioning (AP)" is suggested recently.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of brain tissue extract after AP on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.DESIGN: Random control experiment.SETTING: Institute of Acupuncture & Moxibustion and Massage, and Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Hubei College of Traditional Chinese Medicine.MATERIALS: Totally 102 adult Wistar rats were selected during the experiment, which was completed in the Institute of Acupuncture & Moxibustion and Massage of Hubei College of Traditional Chinese Medicine from September 2003 to July 2004. Among them, 20 rats were used to prepare cerebral tissue extract, and another 82 were used in the subsequent experiment.METHODS: The brain tissue extract was obtained from the rats which were given electroacupuncture at Shenshu (BL-23) and Baihui (DU-20).Totally 82 rats were randomly divided into 6 groups. Five rats in blank control group were taken as blank control, 15 in sham-operation control group were performed with sham operation, 16 in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion control group with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, 16 in saline control group with the injection of saline intravenously firstly and then cerebral ischemia-reperfusion modeling, 15 in normal cerebral tissue extract control group with the injection of normal cerebral tissue extract intravenously firstly and then cerebral ischemia-reperfusion modeling, and 15 in AP cerebral tissue extract group with the injection of cerebral tissue extract intravenously firstly and then cerebral ischemia-reperfusion modeling.Intravenous injection was performed 2 hours and 1 hour before cerebral ischemic modeling, and each rat was injected twice with 1 mL/time. Brain tissue of the rats was taken ont 1, 3, 7 days after reperfusion respectively (or each group was divided into 3 subgroups with 5 rats in each) except those in blank control group. The blain tissue of rat in each group was selected at the relevant time points, and embedded with paraffin and cut into pieces. Cerebral histopathology was observed under the light scope (× 400)and the survival neurons were counted whose area was layer y of region Ⅰ in parietal cortex (inner cone).cortex.RESULTS: Two rats died during the experiment in cerebral ischemiareperfusion control group and saline control group respectively. Another Except blank control group and sham operation group, the brain sections of different time points in other groups showed scattering ischemic anoxic Count of survival neurons in layer Ⅴ of area I in parietal cortex: One day after reperfusion, survival nerve density of the brain ischemic reperfusion model group [(338.8±31.2)/mm2] was significantly lower than that of blank control group [(753.4±60.8)/mm2] (F=129.36, P ＜ 0.05); degeneration of the nerves became worse after reperfusion for 3 days and 7 days, but with no significant difference (F=1.76, P ＞ 0.05). There was no significant difference between the saline control group, normal brain tissue extract group and brain ischemic reperfusion model group at different time points (F=1.76, P ＞ 0.05). Survival neuron density in group of brain tissue extract after AP at the three time points was significantly higher than that in brain ischemic reperfusion model group [(438.1±41.0), (338.8±31.2)/mm2,(296.4±27.1), (124.8±13.4)/mm2; (269.5±30.4), (1.324±0.157)/mm2;F=129.36, P ＜ 0.05].CONCLUSION: Injection of the brain tissue extract after AP at Shenshu (BL-23) and Baihui (DU-20) into the celiac cavity of rats could obviously reduce the subsequent neuron loss induced by brain isehemia-reperfusion and protect brain from ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Objective To investigate the relationship between fetuin A and left ventricular function and their influences on residual renal function(RRF) in peritoneal dialysis patients.Method Eighty patients recently initiating peritoneal dialysis were enrolled into this study and were divided into high fetuin A group and low fetuin A group accordin to the value of serum fetuin A concentration.Hemoglobin,high sensitive C reactive protein(hsCRP),calcium,phosphorus,albumin,lipoproteins and left ventricular myocardial performance index(LV-MPI) were examined.All these patients were followed up for 12 months,to discover the parameters' differences between two groups and to investigate the association between fetuin A and left ventricular function and RRF.Results At the beginning of the study,there was no difference of hsCRP,calcium,phosphorus,albumin,lipoproteins and LV-MPI,estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between two groups;After 12 months follow-up,MPI was obviously shorter (P ＜ 0.05) and RRF was obviously higher (P ＜ 0.05) in high fetuin A group than thosein low fetuin A group.Compared with the beginning of the study,LV-MPI was significantly increased and eGFR was significantly decreased after 12 months follow-up (both P ＜ 0.05) in low fetuin A group,but no obviously change of LV-MPI or eGFR was found in high fetuin A group after followup.Pearson correlation analysis discovered an obvious negative correlation between fetuin A and MPI (r=-0.680,P ＜ 0.01).Multiple regression analysis indicated that eGFR had positive correlation with fetuin A (B=0.058,t=3.679,P＜ 0.01) and negative correlations with MPI (B=-0.511,t=-2.903,P=0.007),age(B=-0.144,t=-4.013,P＜0.01).Diabetes was risk factor to loss of RRF (B=-2.031,t=-2.759,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Fetuin A has very close relationship with left ventricular function.Decreased serum fetuin A level and decreased left ventricular function are risk factors to the loss of the RRF in ERSD patients.

Objective To investigate the association of vascular calcification,fetuin A and Creaction protein (CRP),and explore the influence on cardiovascular events.Methods Sixty peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients were enrolled in this study.Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT),fetuin A and CRP,along with the other serum related parameters were detected to find out their influence on vascular calcification in PD patients.The relationship between cIMT,fetuin A,CPR and cardiovascular events was analyzed in PD patients with 18 months followed-up.Results Of the 60 PD patients,carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) was increased in 38 patients(63.3％).Compared with the non-increased cIMT patients,serum fetuin A concentration was significantly decreased(P ＜ 0.05),CRP(P＜0.01) and calcium × phosphate products(P＜0.05) were significantly increased in the highincreased cIMT group.Compared with the low-increased cIMT patients,fetuin A concentration was obviously lower(P ＜ 0.05) and calcium×phosphate products were obviously higher(P ＜ 0.05) in the highincreased cIMT group.Linear regression analysis discovered an obvious negative correlation between CRP and fetuin A(R2 =0.629,F=47.522,P ＜ 0.01),as well as fetuin A and calcium×phosphate products (R2=0.299,F=11.948,P=0.002).Multiple regression analysis indicated that fetuin A was independently negatively correlated with cIMT(B=-0.019,t =-6.042,P ＜ 0.01).At 18 months,there were 36 newly-happened cardiovascular events and among which 6 cases died.Logistic regression analysis found that increased cIMT was risk factor to cardiovascular events in PD patients(OR=3.691,95％CI 1.467-9.258,P=0.006).Conclusion Decreased fetuin A and increased calcium×phosphate products deteriorate carotid calcification in PD patients.Micro-inflammation of PD patients represented by high CRP levels may increase calcium×phosphate products by depressing the fetuin A level,and in the end will stimulate carotid calcification.Increased cIMT is a risk factor for cardiovascular events.

OBJECTIVE To analyze in vitro activity of ertapenem and other antibiotics against clinical bacterial isolates of ESBLs-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.METHODS E.coli and K.pneumoniae were identified by WalkAway40 with 21CN.ESBLs-producing isolates confirmed accordance with the CLSI guidelines.E-test strips were used for determining the minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC) of ertapenem,while disk diffusion test was performed on each isolate using 10 ?g ertapenem disc.RESULTS ESBLs-producing strains were isolated mainly from sputum,urine,secretion and blood,most of them were from nephrology,neurosurgery,Respiratory department and ICU.High resistance rates were shown for both E.coli and K.pneumoniae against cefepime,ciprofloxacin(63.42%),SMZco(61.78%),tobramycin(45.22%)and gentamicin(61.14%).Most K.pneumoniae and E.coli isolates were susceptible to amikacin(78.70%) and piperacillin/tazobactam(81.30%).Tmipenem showed 100.00% of activity the isolates.Ertapenem showed activity against 100.00% ESBLs-producing E.coli,one ESBLs-producing K.pneumoniae isolate showed ertapenem resistance and another one intermediate,the ratio of susceptibility was 99.40%,ertapenem had MIC at which 50.00% and 90.00% of the isolates were inhibited of 0.032 ?g /ml and 1.0 ?g /ml for ESBLs-producing organisms respectively.CONCLUSIONS Ertapenem is less active to ESBLs-producing organisms then imipenem.Ertapenem resistance appears to be the most sensitive indicator for detection of KPCs.

Objective To investigate the role of Calcineurin binding protein 1(Cabin1)in renal tubular epithelial cells(RTECs)injury. Methods The male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into Sham-oper-ated and 5/6 nephrectomized group. Nephrectomized rats were further divided into two groups ,which were 4 and 8 weeks after operation,including 6 rats in each group. Rats were sacrificed at 4 or 8 weeks after nephrectomy,then control or remnant kidneys were harvested. 2μm sections of kidney tissues were collected and stained with Masson's trichrome and were graded for tubulointerstitial lesion score (TILS). RTECs mitochondrial morphology changes were detected by electron microscope. Western blot was applied to detect Cabin1 protein level in the renal tissue. Results At 8 weeks after the operation,plenty of RTECs fell off from the basement membrane,accompanied with interstitial fibrosis and the infiltration of inflammatory cells. Moreover ,TILS were significantly increased in rats at 8 weeks after operation while compared to sham-operated rats(7.16 ± 0.52 vs. 0.00 ± 0.00,P<0.05). RTECs mi-tochondria begun to swell at 4 weeks after 5/6 nephrectomy,while the disruption of cristae could be found in rats at 8 weeks. Cabin1 protein expression apparently increased in the remnant kidney. Cabin1 protein obviously increased in rats at 8 weeks after the surgery compared to sham-operated rats(0.97 ± 0.09 vs. 0.22 ± 0.07,P<0.05)and rats at 4 weeks after nephrectomy(0.97 ± 0.09 vs. 0.45 ± 0.03,P<0.05). Conclusions Cabin1 is overexpressed during RTECs injury in 5/6 nephrectomized rats. It can be a crucial factor regulating the damage of RTECs.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of sublingual immunotherapy(SLIT)on the balance of Treg/Th17 cells and related cytokines in preschool children aged 3-6 years with allergic rhinitis(AR).METHODS Seventy preschool children aged 3-6 years with AR were divided into the SLIT group and the medication group,and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed.The medication group received symptomatic treatment alone,while the SLIT group received a combined treatment of SLIT and symptomatic medication,with a 3-year follow-up period.The Treg/Th17 cell balance,serum levels of TGF-β,IL-10,IL-17,IL-21,as well as the total nasal symptom score(TNSS),total medication score(TMS),and visual analog scale(VAS)scores were compared before and after treatment between the two groups.RESULTS After 3 years of treatment,both groups showed significant improvements(P<0.05)in the percentages of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg and CD4+IL-17+Th17 cells among CD4+T cells,percentages of Treg and Th17 cells,serum levels of TGF-β,IL-10,IL-17,IL-21,TNSS,TMS,and VAS scores.Moreover,the SLIT group exhibited significantly better outcomes compared to the medication group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION SLIT can modulate the balance of Treg/Th17 cells and improve serum levels of TGF-β,IL-10,IL-17,and IL-21.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of fetuin-A with residual renal function and carotid artery calcification in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

METHODSBlood examples were collected form 60 CKD patients in stages CKD3 to CKD5 (20 patients per stage) for measurement of serum fetuin-A, albumin, calcium, phosphorus and parathyroid hormone, cholesterol, triglycercide, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein. MDRD equation was used to calculate the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and ELISA was used to detect serum fetuin-A. Color Doppler ultrasound was performed to measure carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT).

RESULTSAs the eGFR decreased, serum fetuin-A significantly decreased in CKD5 stage compared with that in CKD4 stage (P<0.05); compared with that in CKD3 stage, serum fetuin-A level was significantly lowered in CKD4 stage (P<0.05). Linear regression analysis suggested a significant positive correlation between fetuin-A and eGFR. The rate of carotid artery calcification was the highest in CKD5 stage. Rank correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between fetuin-A and cIMT, and logistic regression analysis identified decreased serum Fetuin-A as a risk factor of carotid artery calcification.

CONCLUSIONSerum fetuin-A decreases following the decrease in eGFR, and decreased serum Fetuin-A level is a risk factor of carotid artery calcification in CKD patients.

Adult ; Calcinosis ; etiology ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; etiology ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; blood ; complications ; physiopathology ; Risk Factors ; alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein ; metabolism

A total of 189 stool samples from swine with diarrhea, collected in various porcine farms in the central region of China were tested for porcine enteric caliciviruses (PEC) member porcine sapoviruses (SaV) by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification using primers designed to detect porcine SaV. Selected amplicons were sequenced to establish phylogenetic relationships with reference strains. Porcine SaV were detected in 12.70% (24/189) of the samples. Phylogenetic studies based on partial RNA polymerase gene sequences indicated that the field strains of viruses isolated in China were closely related (75.6 88.3% identity) to the porcine SaV Cowden reference strain. These results provide evidence that caliciviruses of the genus sapovirus circulate in piglets in China, but further studies are needed to clarify their importance as cause of diarrhea. This is the first report of PEC in China.