Animals ; Drug Tolerance ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Morphine ; Phosphorylation ; Rats ; Signal Transduction

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of naloxone used in the postoperation of cerebral tumor.Methods Eighty patients were randomly assigned to receive (treated group:40 patients) or not re- ceive (control group:40 patients) naloxone.Both the two groups accepted the conventional therapy.Re- sults After operation,the content of?-EP,ET decreased continuously but the one of the treated groups was more obviously than that of the control groups (P

1H NMR-based metabolomic approach combined with multivariate statistical analysis was used to evaluate the quality of 21 Farfarae Flos (FF) samples from different growth regions. Principal component analysis showed that wild and cultivated FF could be separated clearly, suggesting a big chemical difference existed between them. Supervised PLS-DA analysis indicated that the wild samples showed higher levels of secondary metabolites, such as bauer-7-ene-3β, 16α-diol, chlorogenic acid, rutin, 7-(3'-ethylcrotonoyloxy)-1α-(2'-methyl-butyryloxy)-3, 14-dehydro-Z-notonipetranone (EMDNT), tussilagone, β-sitosterol and sitosterone. This is consistent with traditional experience that the quality of wild samples are better than that of cultivated ones. The content of pyrrolizidine alkaloids senkirkine also differed greatly among samples from different habitats. The Pearson correlation analysis showed that senkirkine is positively correlated with 4, 5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3,4-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, rutin, kampferol analogues, to a statistically significant extent. The correlation between the toxic compounds and the bioactive components in FF should be further studied.
Chlorogenic Acid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Metabolomics ; Quinic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; Rutin ; Sitosterols ; Tussilago ; chemistry

There are 250 species of Zanthoxylum (Rutaceae) in the world. This genus distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. Alkaloids are the major and representative ingredients in these plants including quinolines, isoquinolines, and amide alkaloids, with such biological activities as anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-virus, anti-platelet aggregation, anti-bacteria and anti- oxidant. These species have been used for a long time to treat toothache, urinary and venereal diseases, lumbago and rheumatism. This review summarizes the chemical constituents and pharmacological activities from the Z. sppplants, in an effort to the systematic research and application of the alkaloids of this genus.
Alkaloids ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Zanthoxylum ; chemistry

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture combined with traction therapy for lumbar disc herniation, providing the basis for future research strategies. Randomized control trials. (RCT) of acupuncture combined with traction therapy for lumber disc herniation at home and abroad from 2000 to 2013 were searched, analysis and evaluation of literature and strength of evidence were based on the principles and methods of Evidence-based Medicine. The total effective rate and curative rate were considered as primary outcome measures; pain improvement, quality of life, relapse rate and adverse effects were considered as secondary outcome measures. Seventeen RCTs were identified, Meta-analysis showed that (1) total effective rate and curative rate: acupuncture combined with traction therapy was better than single therapy (acupuncture or traction); (2) pain improvement: acupuncture combined with traction therapy was better than traction therapy; (3) relapse rate: current evidence could not support the conclusion that acupuncture combined with traction therapy was better than traction therapy. Acupuncture combined with traction therapy for lumbar disc herniation was effective. However, the included studies were with high risk of bias, important outcome measures such as quality of life, relapse rate and adverse effects were not found in most of the studies. Current evidence has not yet been able to fully reflect acupuncture combined with traction therapy for lumbar disc herniation is better than single therapy, so more RCTs of higher quality are needed to further confirm its efficacy and safety.
Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; therapy ; Traction ; methods

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of Qilin Pills combined with clomiphene on idiopathic oligoasthenospermia.

METHODSWe randomly assigned 300 patients with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia to a trial (n = 156) and a control group (n = 144) to be treated with Qilin Pills (6 g, tid) combined with clomiphene (50 mg, qd) and clomiphene alone (50 mg, qd), respectively, both for a course of 12 weeks. Before and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of medication, we determined sperm concentration, the percentages of grade a and grade a + b sperm, sperm motility, and the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone (T), followed by evaluation of the clinical efficacy of Qilin Pills with the pregnancy rate in the patients' spouses as the secondaty therapeutic indexes.

RESULTSCompared with the baseline, both groups of patients showed remarkably improved semen parameters and hormone levels after treatment (all P < 0.01). After 4, 8, and 12 weeks of medication, statistically significant differences were observed between the trial and control groups in sperm concentration ([17.06 ± 2.24] vs [15.07 ± 2.48], [22.10 ± 2.65] vs [18.11 ± 2.97], and [28.13 ± 3.59] vs [21.21 ± 3.60] x 10(6)/mL, P < 0.01), the percentage of grade a sperm ([15.03 ± 2.39] vs [13.08 ± 2.51], [21.08 ± 3.16] vs [16.04 ± 3.05], and [28.08 ± 4.70] vs [20.14 ± 4.74]%, P < 0.01), the percentage of grade a + b sperm ([30.10 ± 5.07] vs [26.21 ± 3.96], [38.08 ± 5.64] vs [30.07 ± 4.80], and [48.04 ± 6.49] vs [35.28 ± 4.77]%, P < 0.01), sperm motility ([42.04 ± 4.86] vs [40.29 ± 4.19], [52.05 ± 5.58] vs [48.03 ± 4.40], and [65.03 ± 5.13] vs [56.67 ± 4.99]%), the FSH level ([7.75 ± 1.38] vs [7.20 ± 1.17], [10.83 ± 1.23] vs [9.10 ± 1.32], and [14.22 ± 0.84] vs [12.06 ± 1.45] IU/L, P < 0.01), the LH level ([10.05 ± 1.68] vs [9.18 ± 1.54], [13.96 ± 1.68] vs [11.99 ± 1.71], and [19.01 ± 2.42] vs [15.86 ± 2.08] IU/L, P < 0.01) and the T level ([19.19 ± 192] vs [18.34 ± 1.79] [21.06 ± 1.63] vs [20.06 ± 1.56], and [24.63 ± 1.06] vs [22.03 ± 1.49] nmol/L, P < 0.01). The pregnancy rate in the patients' spouses was significantly higher in the trial than in the control group at 4, 8, and 12 weeks (1.92 vs 0.69, 4.81 vs 3.47, and 11.54 vs 8.33%, P < 0.01). There were no statistically significant differences in drug tolerance between the two groups (P > 0.05). No obvious adverse reactions were observed.

CONCLUSIONQilin Pills combined with clomiphene can evidently improve the seminal quality and hormone level of oligoasthenospermia patients with no obvious adverse events. However, its long-term efficacy and tolerance deserve further clinical investigation.

Asthenozoospermia ; blood ; drug therapy ; Clomiphene ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fertility Agents ; therapeutic use ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Semen ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; Testosterone ; blood

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of mind-refreshing and balance-restoring needling method combined with Frenkel exercises in treating ataxia after cerebral stroke. Methods: The recruited 120 patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group, with 60 cases in each group. The control group was intervened by mind-refreshing and balance-restoring needling method, while the observation group was given additional lower-limb Frenkel exercises. Before and after treatment and at the follow-up, the ataxic lower-limb function was scored using Berg balance scale (BBS) and international cooperative ataxia rating scale (ICARS), and Barthel index (BI) was adopted to score the activities of daily living (ADL). Results: After treatment, the markedly effective rate was 70.2％ and the total effective rate was 96.5％ in the observation group, versus 39.7％ and 87.9％ in the control group, and the differences in the markedly effective rate and the total effective rate were statistically significant (P<0.01, P<0.05). The intra-group comparisons showed that the BBS, ICARS and BI scores after treatment and at the follow-up were significantly different from those before treatment in both groups (all P<0.01).There were significant differences in the BBS score between the two groups after treatment and at the follow-up (P<0.05, P<0.01); the between-group differences in the ICARS and BI scores were statistically insignificant after treatment (both P>0.05), while the between-group differences in the ICARS and BI scores were statistically significant at the follow-up (both P<0.05). The interaction effects between the scoring time of BBS and BI and the group factor were statistically significant (P<0.01, P<0.05). Conclusion: Mind-refreshing and balance-restoring needling can effectively improve the lower-limb ataxic symptoms and ADL after stroke; when combined with Fenkel exercises, this needling method can produce more significant efficacy.

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of a glycoprotein of plant origin in normal, benign and malignant breast tissues.

METHODSExpression of a plant glycoprotein was examined in 5 samples of normal breast tissues, 20 fibro-adenoma and 136 breast cancer by SABC immunohistochemical staining and the results were analyzed by SPSS statistics software.

RESULTSNo positive staining was detected in normal breast tissues (0/5). Weak staining was observed in 4 of 20 (20.0%) breast fibro-adenoma. Positive staining was demonstrated in 116 out of 136 (85.3%) breast cancer specimens. The differences were statistically significant. The expression of plant-associated human cancer antigen was related to pathological grade (P < 0.05), tissue invasiveness (P < 0.01) and recurrence (P < 0.05), but not to patients' age, tumor size and c-erbB-2 expression.

CONCLUSIONThe plant glycoprotein studied may be a human cancer-associated antigen which might be a potential marker of breast cancer.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; immunology ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; metabolism ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Breast ; immunology ; Breast Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; immunology ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating ; immunology ; pathology ; Female ; Fibroadenoma ; immunology ; pathology ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; metabolism ; Plants ; immunology ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo design and manufacture a new custom-made artificial articular cartilage of femoral condyle based on rapid prototyping technique and explore a method to solve the necroses of allocartilage in hemi joint allotransplantation.

METHODSDesign the new custom-made artificial articular cartilage of femoral condyle. The allograft and the patient distal femurs were scanned with Picker 6000 spiral computed tomography (CT) with 1.0 slice thickness and pitch of 1.5, reconstructed the distal femurs in Voxel Q image workstation with volume rendering technique. Then downloaded the transaxial 2D image data to personal computer at 0.1 mm interval and converted it into 2D digitized contour data by using image processing software developed by our team. The 3D wire frame and solid images of femoral condyle could be reconstructed when the 2D digitized contour data were input into image processing software Surfacer 9.0 (Imageware Company, USA). Subsequently based on the clinical experience and the need of design, the 3D contour image of articular cartilage was extracted from the surrounding. Based on the extracted 3D contour image, the computer-aided design (CAD) of the custom-made artificial articular cartilage was accomplished in Surfacer software, converted the CAD model into RP data format. Standard triangularization language, imported into the LPS600 rapid prototyping machine (Hengtong Company, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China), and the resin prototype was achieved. Then the resin model was used as a positive mould to build up a silica gel negative mould, the negative mould was sent to the factory to manufacture Ti-6Al-4V alloy articular cartilage through ordinary mould-melted founding process. Finally, the whole metal cartilage was completed after melting two special cages on it. A patient was selected to clinical applying.

RESULTSA new custom-made artificial articular cartilage of femoral condyle was made. It was press-fit well to the subchondral bone of the allograft bone. The patient's one and half year follow-up result was excellent.

CONCLUSIONSWe design and manufacture a new custom-made artificial articular cartilage of femoral condyle based on rapid prototyping technique. The result shows that the manufacturing process has the advantage of rapidness and precision that are very important for individualized artificial implant manufacturing. The artificial articular cartilage is press-fit well and could be a good idea to solve the necroses of allocartilage in hemijoint allotransplantation.

Adolescent ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Bone Transplantation ; Cartilage, Articular ; Computer-Aided Design ; Femoral Neoplasms ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee Prosthesis ; Male ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; surgery ; Osteosarcoma ; surgery ; Prosthesis Design ; methods ; Transplantation, Homologous

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEVascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the most important angiogenic factor of multiple myeloma (MM). This study was to investigate the effect of transfection of human soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (sFlt-1) gene on the proliferation of human MM cell line RPMI8226.

METHODSThe recombinant plasmid pcDNA3-sFlt-1 was constructed and transfected into RPMI8226 cells. The expression of sFlt-1 was identified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and ELISA. The effects of sFlt-1 protein on the proliferation and VEGF expression of RPMI8226 cells were investigated by MTT assay and ELISA, respectively.

RESULTSThe recombinant plasmid pcDNA3-sFlt-1 was successfully transfected into RPMI8226 cells. sFlt-1 protein expression was identified by ELISA, which inhibited the proliferation of RPMI8226 cells and reduced VEGF concentration in the culture supernatant.

CONCLUSIONRPMI8226 cells can express sFlt-1 protein with high biological activity when transfected with the sFlt-1 gene, which inhibits the proliferation of RPMI8226 cells.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Plasmids ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology