Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Information Storage and Retrieval ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Objective To study the values of quantitative assessment of extraocular muscles in diagnosing the thyroid associated ophthalmopathy(TAO).Methods The maximum section area,short and long diameters of extraocular muscles on orbital coronal CT were measured and the value of R was calculated in 50 healthy persons and 50 patients with TAO.Results The maximum section areas of 228 extraocular muscles in 50 patients with TAO increased,of them,inferior rectus(30.3%) and mediate rectus muscle(23.2%) were common,followed by superior rectus,lateral rectus and superior oblique muscle.Their maximum section areas(70.21 mm2,56.93 mm2,64.06 mm2,58.51 mm2,20.65 mm2,respectively) and the values of R(0.61,0.55,0.61,0.50,0.52,respectively) were larger than that in healthy group(27.72 mm2,27.07 mm2,26.93 mm2,36.74 mm2,9.42 mm2 respectively in maximum section areas) and(0.41,0.35,0.60,0.34,0.44 in the values of R,respectively).There were statistical significant differents between them.Conclusion The quantitative coronal CT measurement,especially the values of R can assess enlargement of extraocular muscles accurately,which may be helpful in diagnosis of TAO.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease, which is characterized by synovial inflammation. Hyperplasia sublining macrophages found in synovium is an early hallmark of RA and effective treatment results in their diminution. However, the origin of these sublining macrophages in synovium (including infiltrated macrophages and tissue-resident macrophages) are still unknown both in animal models of arthritis and RA patients, let alone the differences and feature of these macro?phages. In rheumatic synovium, macrophages are submitted to a large variety of micro-environmental signals which influence the phenotypic polarization and activation of macrophages. Understanding the mechanisms and functional consequences of the heterogeneous macrophages will contribute to confirm their potential role in synovial inflammation development. Furthermore, research on macrophage plasticity to soft-control their phenotypic polarization could lead to novel therapeutic approaches.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) combined with Donepezil on learning-memory ability and gene expression of β-amyloid (Aβ) clearance-related factors in the hippocampus in senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice, so as to explore their synthetic effect in improving dementia of Alzheimer's disease (AD)．. METHODS: Male SAMP8 mice (30-week-old) were randomly divided into model, medication and EA＋medication groups (n＝6 mice in each group), and other 6 senescence-resistant 1 (SAMR1) mice were used as the control group. Mice of the medication and EA＋medication group received gavage of Donepezil (1.3 mg•kg－1•d－1) once daily for 4 weeks. EA (2 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to "Baihui"(GV20) and "Yintang" (EX-HN3) for 15 min, once daily, 6 days a week for 4 weeks for rats in the EA＋medication group. The Morris water maze (MWM) task (including place navigation tests and space exploration trials) was used to assess the mouse's learning-memory ability. Histopathological changes of hippocampus tissue were observed by H．E. staining. The expression levels of matrix metalloprotein 9 (MMP-9), low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP-1), P-glycoprotein (Pgp, an important drug transporter responsible for multidrug resistance), Claudin-5 (a component of tight junction strands that serves as a physical barrier to prevent solutes and water from passing freely through the paracellular space between epithelial or endothelial cell sheets of blood-brain barrier, BBB) and Aβ mRNAs of the hippocampus tissue were detected by quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the average escape latency of place navigation tests, and the expression levels of MMP-9 and Aβ mRNAs were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the number of platform quadrant-crossing times of space exploration trials, and the expression levels of LRP-1, Pgp and Claudin-5 mRNAs considerably decreased in the model group (P<0.01). After the intervention, the learning-memory ability was significantly improved in the medication and EA＋medication groups (P<0.01，P<0.05), the expression levels of Aβ mRNAs in the medication and EA＋medication groups and MMP-9 mRNA in the EA＋medication group were obviously down-regulated (P<0.01), and those of LRP-1 and Pgp mRNAs in the medication and EA＋medication groups and Claudin-5 mRNA in the EA＋medication group were remarkably up-regulated (P<0.05, P<0.01). The therapeutic effect of EA＋medication was apparently superior to that of simple medication in shortening the escape latency (P<0.05，P<0.01) and in down-regulating the expression of MMP-9 and Aβ mRNAs(P<0.01), and in increasing the number of platform quadrant-crossing times(P<0.01), and expression levels of LRP-1, Pgp and Claudin-5 mRNAs (P<0.01). H．E. staining showed scatted and loose arrangement of neurons in the hippocampus, with reduction of number of cell layers and unclear nucleoli, which was relatively milder in the medication and EA＋medication groups. CONCLUSION: EA can enhance the effect of Donepezil in improving learning-memory ability in AD mice possibly by regulating expression of MMP-9, LRP-1, Pgp and Claudin-5 mRNAs and strengthening the effect of Donepezil in transporting Aβ via BBB.

Objective To explore the diagnosis value of X-ray breast imaging reporting and data system (BI-RADS) combined with wire-guided localization biopsy for breast microcalcifications in impalpable breast cancer.Methods 192 palpation negative patients with 205 microcalcification lesions were detected by mammography.All lesions were classified according to BI-RADS descriptors for calcification and were categorized by the BI-RADS.The patients with BI-RADS category 4a and above underwent X-ray positioning guide wire-guided biopsy and pathological diagnosis.Results In 205 microcalcification lesions,74 (36.1％) were malignant lesions,131 (63.9 ％) were less than benign lesions.The positive predictive value of malignant breast lesions in clustered,segmental,regional linear branching calcifications were higher [83.3 ％ (5/6),100.0 ％ (11/11),100.0 ％ (1/1)],followed by clustered,linear,segmental,regional pleomorphic calcifications [55.9 ％ (38/68),50.0 ％ (1/2),40.0 ％ (8/20) and 33.3 ％ (4/12),respectively].The positive predictive values of malignant in linear branching calcifications and pleomorphic calcifications were significantly higher than those of coarse heterogeneous calcifications,amorphous or indistinct calcifications (x2 values were 34.44,51.87,16.71,29.86,all P ＜ 0.05).The linear branching calcification had the highest possibility.The proportions of malignant lesions in four different types of glands were extremely dense 40.5 ％ (30/74),heterogeneously dense 39.2 ％ (29/74),scattered areas of fibroglandular density 10.8 ％ (8/74) and fat 9.5 ％ (7/74),respectively.Conclusions BI-RADS categorization for breast microcalcification lesions can improve the detection rate of impalpable breast cancer.Linear branching calcification has higher predictive value for malignant lesions.Dense breast is the risk factors of breast cancer,which should be attached great importance.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy on spastic pelvic floor syndrome (SPFS) treated with electroacupuncture (EA) at Shangliao (BL 31), Ciliao (BL 32), Zhongliao (BL 33) and Xialiao (BL 34).

METHODSThirty-six cases of SPFS were treated with EA at Shangliao (BL 31), Ciliao (BL 32), Zhongliao (BL 33) and Xialiao (BL 34), intermittent wave, 60 times/min in frequency, retained for 20 min. In general, the acupoints on one side were stimulated in each treatment. The bilateral acupoints stimulation was applied in serious cases. The treatment was given once every two days, five treatments made one session and totally three sessions were required. Before and after treatment, the clinical symptoms, anal kinetic indices defecation radiographic changes were observed. The follow-up observation was done in three months after the end of treatment.

RESULTSIn three-months follow-up after treatment, 14 cases were cured, 18 cases improved and 4 cases failed. The total effective rate was 88. 9%. After treatment, the cases of incomplete defecation, difficult defecation, anal pain and anal obstruction were reduced apparently as compared with those before treatment, indicating the statistically significant differences (all P<0.01). After treatment, rectal anal reflex threshold (ARA) was increased, anal maximal contraction pressure (AMCP) was reduced to (16.62±1.54) kPa and anal rest pressure (ARP) was significantly reduced to (7.22±0.36) kPa, indicating the statistical differences as compared with those before treatment (all P<0.01). After treatment, anorectal angle (ARA) in forceful defecation was increased to (116.55±9.42)°, the distance between the anorectal junction and the pubococcygeal line was decreased, and the impression of puborectal muscle was alleviated apparently as compared with that before treatment (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONEA at Shangliao (BL 31), Ciliao (BL 32), Zhongliao (BL 33) and Xialiao (BL 34) achieves definite efficacy on SPFS and this therapeutic method obviously relieves the symptoms and deserves to be promoted in clinic.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Anus Diseases ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Constipation ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Defecation ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle Spasticity ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Pelvic Floor ; pathology

Based on chaos theory,chaological connotations of pulse tracings and sphygmology were expounded and explained.Main contents included embodiments of four characteristics(inner randomness,sensitivity to initial value,chaos order and unpredictability of long-term behavior)of chaos in pulse tracings and sphygmology.

Objective To investigate the spiral CT features of gastric carcinoma in the invasion and metastasis and its correlation with the expression of phosphatase and tensin horology deleted on chormosome ten(PTEN)and basic fibroblast grouth factor(bFGF).Methods Spiral CT plain scan and triphasic enhanced scans were performed in 83 patients.The postoperative specimens were embedded with paraffin to obtain 5?m thickness tissues and stained with HE and immunohistochemistry.Spiral CT findings were compared with the expression of phosphatase and tensin horology deleted on chormosome ten(PTEN)and basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF).Results(1)The accuracy of spiral CT in T and N staging of gastric carcinoma was 94.0%(78/83)and 89.2%(74/83),respectively.(2)The expression of PTEN was 47.0%(39/83)in gastric carcinoma.The expression of PTEN in T_(3.4)(40.8%,29/71)and N_(1+2) (38.3%,23/60)gastric carcinoma was significantly lower than that of T_2(10/12)and N_0(16/23)gastric carcinoma,respectively(X~2=7.439,P=0.006;X~2=6.511,P=0.011).(3)The expression of bFGF was 63.9%(53/83)in gastric carcinoma.The expression of bFGF in T(3.4)(70.4%,50/71)and N_(1+2) (71.7%,43/60)gastric carcinoma was significantly higher than that of T_2(3/12)and N_0(10/23)gastric carcinoma,respectively(X~2=7.314,P=0.007;X~2=5.724,P=0.017).(4)Both PTEN-positive expression and bFGF-positive expression were detected in 16 specimens.The expression of PTEN(41.0%, 16/39)was negatively correlated with that of bFGF(30.2%,16/53)(r=-0.447,P=0.000). Conclusion Spiral CT triphasic enhanced scans combined with biologic characteristics can improve diagnostic accuracy of gastric carcinoma in the invasion,metastasis and prognosis.

This paper investigates the effect of myricetin (MYR) on renal fibrosis induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and common bile duct ligation (CBDL) in mice and its mechanism. The animal experiment has been approved by the Ethics Committee of China Pharmaceutical University (NO: 2022-10-020). Thirty-five ICR mice were divided into control, UUO, UUO+MYR, CBDL and CBDL+MYR groups. H&E and Masson staining were used to detect pathological changes in kidney tissues. Western blot (WB) was used to detect the expression of fibrosis-related proteins in renal tissue, and total superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity detection kit (WST-8) was used to detect the changes of total SOD in renal tissue of CBDL mice. In vitro, HK-2 cells and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1, 10 ng·mL^-1) were used to induce fibrotic model, and high glucose (30 mmol·L^-1) was used to induce oxidative stress model, and then treated with different concentrations of MYR, WB was used to detect the expression of fibrosis and oxidative stress-related proteins, while NIH/3T3 cells were treated with different concentrations of MYR, and their effects on cell proliferation were detected by 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (Brdu). The results showed that the renal lesions in UUO group and CBDL group were severe, collagen deposition was obvious, the expression of collagen-Ⅰ (COL-Ⅰ), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), fibronectin (FN), vimentin and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) protein was up-regulated, and the activity of SOD enzyme in CBDL group was significantly decreased. MYR partly reversed the above changes after treatment. MYR inhibited the proliferation of NIH/3T3 cells but had no effect on the proliferation of HK-2 cells, and decreased the upregulation of PAI-1, FN and vimentin in HK-2 cells stimulated by TGF-β1. MYR can also up-regulate the down-regulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in HK-2 cells stimulated by high glucose. To sum up, MYR can improve renal fibrosis in vivo and in vitro, probably by inhibiting the proliferation of fibroblasts and activating Nrf2/HO-1 signal pathway to inhibit oxidative stress.