Objective To investigate the effect of indirect gentle moxibustion on serum IL-1 and TNF-?contents in patients with knee osteoarthritis and explore the mechanism of its action. Method A randomized controlled trial was conducted according to the patient's condition. Besides acupuncture as basic treatment, the treatment group received indirect gentle moxibustion and the control group, thermotherapy plus cupping. Pre-treatment and post-treatment serum IL-1 and TNF-?contents and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores were analyzed in the patients and compared between the two groups. Result There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in serum IL-1 and TNF-? contents and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score in the two groups (P<0.05). After treatment, serum IL-1 and TNF-?contents and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score were lower in the treatment group than in the control group. Conclusion Indirect gentle moxibustion can effectively decrease serum IL-1 and TNF-?contents in patients with knee osteoarthritis. That provides a certain molecular cytobiological and bio tissue engineering basis for the mechanism of its action in reducing inflammatory stimulation.

To observe the effect of oxidized low density lipoprotein (OxLDL) on arterial endothelial cells apoptosis in vivo, we established a model in which Sprague-Dawley rats were given intraperitoneal and intravenous injection of unmodified LDL (8 mg/kg every day) via the tail vein. Seven days after the injection, the aortic endothelial cells specimens were prepared by an en face preparation of rat aorta. The apoptotic cells were identified and counted by in situ nick and labelling (TUNEL) method and light microscopy. The numbers of the apoptotic cells were 12.52 +/- 4.71/field in the intraperitoneal injection control group, 11.41 +/- 2.94/field in the intravenous injection control group, 22.98 +/- 8.01/field in the intraperitoneal injection LDL group and 103.8 +/- 11.5/field in the intravenous injection LDL group, respectively. The difference was significant between injection LDL group and control (P < 0.01), and the difference was also significant between two LDL injection groups (P < 0.01). These findings suggest that injection of LDL can induce apoptosis in arterial endothelial cells and the effect is especially significant with intravenous injection LDL. After injection, oxidative modification of LDL may occur in local arteries and causes injury to the endothelial cells.
Aorta ; Apoptosis/*drug effects ; Endothelium, Vascular/*pathology ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Injections, Intravenous ; Lipoproteins, LDL/*metabolism ; Lipoproteins, LDL/*pharmacology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Random Allocation ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To evaluate the cost differences in two groups of BPH patients undergone suprapubic transvesical prostatectomy or TULVP. Methods A comparison of the cost-effectiveness was undertaken,including days of catheter indwelling and hospitaliztion,follow-up results,cost financial expense as related to different operative procedures. Results In TULVP group,the days of catheter indwelling and hospitalization were significantly shortened and the total expenditure was decreased (P

Objective To observe the role of cannabinoid receptor-2 (CB2) in acute experimental colitis in mice, and to explore its effect on the endoplasmic reticulum stress ( ERS ) in the intestinal mucosa . Methods 32 SPF mice were randomly divided into normal group,model group,CB2 agonist group and CB2 antagonist group. Disease activity index( DAI) and colon histopathological score( HS) were evaluatd. The levels of TNF-α and IL-10 in colon tissue were detected by ELISA. The expression of CB2 and ERS markers GRP78, CHOP in colon tissues were de-tected by immunohistochemical. The mRNA levels of GRP78 and CHOP were detected by RT-PCR. Results Com-pared with the normal group,the level of TNF-αwas significantly higher and the level of IL-10 was significantly low-er(P<0. 05) in the model group,the expressions of GRP78, CHOP and its mRNA were significantly higher(P<0. 05). Compared with the model group,the expression of CB2 in the CB2 agonist group was significantly higher(P<0. 05),the level of TNF-α dropped and the level of IL-10 increased(P<0. 05),and the expressions of GRP78, CHOP and its mRNA were significantly reduced(P<0. 05). The level of IL-10,TNF-α and ERS markers had no significant difference bewteen CB2 antagonist group and the model group ( P>0. 05 ) . Conclusion Severe endo-plasmic reticulum stress exists in intestinal mucosa of experimental colitis mice. The CB2 agonist activates CB2 ex-pression,reducing colitis in mice. Its mechanism may be related to inhibiting ERS in intestinal mucosa.

BACKGROUND:Methicil in-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection had been a global problem up to 1980s, and it has become a leading pathogen giving rise to nosocomial infections now.
OBJECTIVE:To determine the molecular types and drug susceptibilities of Staphylococcus aureus prevailed in burn ward, and to provide a basis for preventing and control ing MRSA intections.
METHODS:A total of 53 Staphylococcus aureus strains were col ected from the burn ward in the Urumqi General Hospital of Lanzhou Military Region of Chinese PLA. These MRSA strains were identified by PCR and cefoxitin disc diffusion test, and al MRSA strains were typed by spa, SCCmec and MLST typing. In the meanwhile, antibiotic susceptibilities of 17 kinds of drugs, such as oxacil in, to Staphylococcus aureus were also determined, and drug resistance of different types of Staphylococcus aureus especial y MRSA, was analyzed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Among 53 Staphylococcus aureus strains, 43 were identified as MRSA, containing determined for amplification of meoA (n=41) and positive for cefoxitin disc diffusion test (n=2). Three SCCmec types, four spa types, and three ST types were found. The major predominant clone was ST239-MRSA-III-t030 (90.7%), with highest resistant to oxacil in and other nine antibiotics. In conclusion, the higher MRSA isolation rate from the burn ward, and ST239-MRSA-III-t030, as the predominant clone, presents with an outbreak in the burn ward and stronger resistance to many different families of antibiotics.

Objective Detecting the level of IDO and KYN in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients; using ROC curve to discuss their value in the diagnosis of patients with active UC. Methods 60 cases of UC group, 18 cases of dis-ease control group and 20 cases of healthy control group were included in the study. Immunohistochemical staining methods were used to detect the expression of IDO in colonic mucosa of UC, enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) methods were used to detect the serum levels of IDO, KYN and CRP, and the value with ROC curve method was analyzed. Results ① There was a positive correlation between IDO level and IDO expression (P<0.05). There was a positive correlation between KYN level and IDO expression (P<0.05). ②The levels of IDO and KYN in UC group were higher than those of disease control group and health control group (P<0.05). ③The levels of IDO and KYN in patients with active UC were significantly higher than that in patients with catabasis UC (P<0.01), and the levels increased with severity of inflammation. ④ The levels of IDO and KYN in active UC were positively related to disease activity and CRP levels (P<0.05). ⑤The IDO,KYN and CRP area under ROC curve were 0.976, 0.856 and 0.864;best cut-off point were 53.66 U/L, 2.34 nmol/L and 1.75 mg/ml;sensitiv-ity were 90.5%, 78.65% and 100.0%; specifity were 94.4%, 83.3% and 61.1%; Youden index were 0.839 2, 0.619 0 and 0.611 1. Conclusion The levels of IDO and KYN in serum can be used as an important index to judge the severity of UC. They have important value in the diagnosis of active UC . The value of IDO is higher than KYN and CRP.

BACKGROUND: The studies found that cardiomyocyte apoptosis is related to ischemia-reperfusion injury directly. The clinical and experimental studies proved that ginseng and losartan could improve myocardial iscbemia and prevent the ischemia-reperfusion injury.But the comparative study of their effects on cardiomyocyte injury induced by ischemia and reperfusion has not been reported.OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of ginseng and losartan on cardiomyocyte Bcl-2 gene expression after ischemia and reperfusion in vivo.DESIGN: Randomized controlled experiment.SETTING: Department of Cardiovascular Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology.MATERIALS: The experiment was carried out in the Laboratory of Cardiovascular Internal Medicine of Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College Affiliated to Huazhong University of Science and Technology from November 2002 to April 2003. Totally 40 healthy adult Wistar rats, weighting 200-250 g, of either gender, were selected and divided into 4 groups:sham operated group, ischemia-reperfusion group, ginseng treated group and losartan treated group with 10 rats in each group.METHODS: Rats were modeled in ischemia-reperfusion group, ginseng treated group and los arran treated group but not in sham operation group.20 mg/kg (1 mL in volume) losartan was given by stomach. The first administration was 2 hours prior to operation. Subsequently, the second and third administrations were given in immediate and 24 hours after operation,respectively; 1 mL of radix ginseng rubra (1 g/mL) was given by stomach.The first administration was 2 hours before operation. Subsequently, the second and third administrations were given in just and 24 hours after operation, respectively. The rats in ischemia-reperfusion and sham-operated group were given the normal saline with the same volume and at the same time. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization histochemistry were used to measure mRNA and protein of Bcl-2 gene expression that were compared with those in the control group.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The expression level of Bcl-2 mRNA and Bcl-2 protein in ginseng treated group and losartan treated group.RESULTS: Data of totally 40 rats was entered the final analysis. ① Content of Bcl-2 mRNA and protein were not significantly different both in ginseng group and control group (P ＞ 0.05). ② Contents of Bcl-2 mRNA and Bcl-2 protein were higher in ginseng treated group than those in the ischemia-reperfusion group (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).CONCLUSION: Expressions of Bcl-2 mRNA and Bcl-2 protein in ginseng treated group are higher than those in losartan treated group, which suggests that ginseng has not same effect with losartan in inhibiting cardiomyocyte apoptosis and in preventing and curing cardiomyocyte injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion.

Based on the application of the second generation field medical cabin in the practices,the author points out the advantages of it such as advanced equipment,diversified adaptation,fully equipped element,etc.Meanwhile,the author also puts forward problems and relevant suggestions in extension area,equipment configuration and accessories.The suggestion provides basic theoretical evidence for improving the medical cabin devices.

Objective To assess the value of ultrasonic probe (USP) in the diagnosis of Submucous eminence of colorectume.Methods Sixty-eight patients with colorectal submucous eminence in 70 areas received USP under colonoscope.The accuracy of diagnosis was evaluated.Results Twenty carcinoid tumor were detected which manifested submucous hypoechoic ; Lipoma 12,located in right half colon which manifested submucous layer,clear boundaries hyperechoic; Cyst 12 manifested single or multi lattices no-echo on submucous which have integrated involucrum.Mesenchymoma or myoma levicellulare 12,most of them located inthe rectum manifested uniform or no-uniform hypoechoic on the muscularis mucosa or below and were difficult to discriminate.Malignant lymphoma,3 manifested muscularis mucosa and submucosa thickening,muscularis propria were seldom affected.Vascular diseases (hemangioma,varicosity) 3,manifested no-echoic on mucosa or submucosa,some medium,high echoic,circular or irregular,and also endometriosis 2,pigment deposition 1,appendix abscess 1,extramural compression 2,ultrasonic test is marched with clinic diagnosis.Accuracy rate is 100％.Conclusion USP can diagnose colorectal submucous eminence with high accuracy,and even provide information about the size,layer of origin,border of the colorectal submucous eminence and can distinguish benign or malignant tumor according to ultrasonic check,at the same time provide differentiation with extramural compressive lesions.