Objective To investigate the clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture on pulmonary infection after acute cerebral infarction.Methods Seventy patients with pulmonary infection after acute cerebral infarction were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 35 cases each. The control group received routine medication and the treatment group, acupuncture in addition. Pre-treatment and post-treatment National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores and clinical pulmonary infection scores (CPIS) were compared between the two groups. The correlation between the NIHSS score and the CPIS score was observed.Results There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in the NIHSS score and the CPIS score in the two groups (P<0.05,P<0.01). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in the NIHSS score and the CPIS score between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05). The correlation between the NIHSS score and the CPIS score was low in the treatment group after treatment (r=0.417,P<0.05).Conclusions Acupuncture plus medication is an effective way to treat pulmonary infection after acute cerebral infarction. It can improve the NIHSS score and the CPIS score in the patients.

Objective To establish a reproducible rat model of acute rectal mucosal injury induced by acetic acid. Methods Fifteen healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control group (3 rats) and experimental group (12 rats).Acute rectal mucosal injury was induced by 4%acetic acid using a cotton swab inserted into the rat rec-tum for 1 min to a depth of 3 cm.The morphological characteristics were analyzed by the naked eye and histology at 0.5 h and 1, 4, and 6 days after acetic acid intervention.Results All rats survived 6-day study period.The successful rate of model establishment was 100%.From 0.5 h to 1st day after acetic acid intervention, the gross morphology of recta showed congestion, edema and ulcer to ulcer complicated with hemorrhage.The histology showed necrosis and hemorrhage of the epithelial tissue of the mucosa to complete and extensive necrosis of the mucosa.The glandular structure showed partial to complete loss.The submucosa showed edema to edema complicated with hemorrhage and congestion.The interstitial tissues showed vasodilatation and congestion to inflammatory cell invasion.From 4 to 6 days after acetic acid intervention, the rectal mucosal changes were obviously improved.Epithelial and glandular regeneration and inflammatory granulation occurred, but not fully recovered, some edema and redness, partial lack of glands were still present.Conclusions 4%acetic acid for 1 min can be used to successfully induce rat model of acute rectal mucosal injury.This procedure is easy to operate, with a high success rate,reproducible, and the alterations are lasting more than 6 days.This animal model is very suitable for rapid screening of topical drugs for the treatment for rectal mucosal injury.

Objective To study the protective effect of vitamin C on UV-induced photoaged skin structure in rats and provide a basis for clinical medicine and health care.Methods Photoaging skin models were set up by chronic ultraviolet radiation in 24 SPF female Sprague-Dawley rats, irradiated twice weekly for 4 weeks.The rat photoaged skin was induced by exposure to a total dose of 123 J/cm2 UVA and 5 J/cm2 UVB for 4 weeks.Vitamin C was administered by gastric gavage in a dose of 50 mg/kg once daily for 30 days during the model development.We compared the pathological changes in the irradiated skin using HE, Masson’ s trichrome and Victoria blue B staining, and compared the ultrastructural changes by electron microscopy.Results Rat models with photoaged skin were developed successfully.The vitamin C group showed significant reduction of pathological severity including erythema, ulcers, epidermal cell proliferation, epidermal thickness, dermis vasodilation, inflammatory cell infiltration, fibroblast proliferation, endoplasmic reticulum dilatation, mitochondrial swelling and vacuolization, elastic fibers degeneration and focal accumulation, collagen fibers swelling with uneven thickness,compared with the rats of model group at the irradiation site.Conclusions Vitamin C is effective in reducing the structural damage of UV-induced photoaged skin in rats.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of Pingyangmycin combined with Triamcinolone Acetonide on the huge faciocervical lymphatic malformations (LMs) in infants.Methods Sixty-seven infants with LMs located in head and neck from January 2009 to June 2014 were retrospectively analyzed in Kunming Children's Hospital.Thirty-five males and 32 females were enrolled,aged from 1 month to 4 years,with a median age of 1.3 years.Computed tomography and ultrasonography were used to evaluate the location,size and extent of LMs before treatment in all the patients.The size of lesion varied from 5.2 cm ×7.5 cm to 9.2 cm × 10.5 cm.All patients were given local injection of Pingyangmycin combined with Triamcinolone Acetonide after puncturing fluid with uhrasonography guiding under general anesthesia.The injection was repeated every 30 d when necessary.Results The number of injections varied from 2 to 5 times,with a median number of 3.9 times.All cases were followed up for 5 to 36 months.Thirty-two cases (62.68％) were cured,improvement in 19 cases (28.36％) and no effect in 6 cases (8.96％).The total effective rate was 91.04％.There was no severe allergic reaction or pulmonary fibrosis.Secondary operation was performed after 6 months in 12 cases.Two post-operative complications were found,1 was minor paralyses of mandibular branch of facial nerve,with mouth askew,the other was trachyphonia,who were both improved after rehabilitation treatment.Conclusions In order to avoid serious complications,the huge LMs may be given local injection of Pingyangmycin combined with Triamcinolone Acetonide after puncturing fluid with ultrasonography guiding.Graded sclerotherapy provides for a less invasive and shorter course of treatment.The complications and risk of secondary resection increase slightly if sclerotherapy has no curative effect.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of interventional techniques in the diagnosis and therapy of Dieulafoy disease. Methods A retrospective study was performed, including 17 patients with massive upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (patients without peptic ulcer and portal hypertension or diagnosed with Dieulafoy disease by endoscopic examination). All patients had both DSA and interventional embolization treatment, and were followed for 12 months to appraise the clinical effectiveness. Results Sixteen patients were diagnosed as Dieulafoy disease by using DSA. Fifteen of the 16 patients were treated with embolization successfully withoutserious complications. One patient received subtotal gastrectomy because of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage recurrence. Nine patients with irregular upper abdominal pain and burning sensation had complete remission after symptomatic management. Fifteen patients who had embolization showed no serious complications during the follow-up period of 12 months, there was no hematemesis and melena for the 15 cases with successful embolization. Conclusion The angiography and embolization are safe and efficacious in the diagnosis and therapy of Dieulafoy disease.

Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of indwelling suture in preventing re-adhesion of fallopian tube after fallopian tube recanalization(FTR). Methods Screen 93 patients with fallopian tube obstruction and FTR indications of prospective, the patients without other interference factors of infertility, they were randomized with random sampling into two groups (treatment group 50 and control group 43)and treated by FTR,then the treatment group with indwelling sutures in fallopian tube for 3 days, the control group were infused lipiodol into the tube and with a intrauterine cavity perfusion in 3 days. The two groups received followed up examination at 2,6 months after operation ( a treatment was repeated with the case of re-obstruction) . Follow-up for 12 months to appraise the pregnancy rate and the influence of pregnancy competence of tube with indwelling suture(6 months after operation, to collect and compare the pregnancy rate and ectopic pregnancy rate of patent tube in two groups). Results The tubal patency rate were 89.8%(53/59),89.5%(51/57)of treatment group at 2,6 months after operation and the control group were75.9%(44/58),75.0%(39/52), there was a significant difference between the two groups(2 m:χ2=4.027, P<0.05;6 m:χ2=3.958,P<0.05). One year after operation,the pregnancy rate of treatment group was 43.2%(16/37) , the control group was 20.6%(7/34) ,there was a significant difference(χ2=4.152,P<0.05). Six
months after operation, the pregnancy rate and ectopic pregnancy rate of patent tube in treatment group were 21.6%(11/51),2/11, the control group were15.4%(6/39),1/6, there was no significant difference between them(pregnancy rate:χ2=0.552,P>0.05). Conclusions The indwelling suture of fallopian tube can prevent re-adhesion better after FTR, then improve the long-term recanalization rate and the pregnancy rate. There is no change on the pregnancy competence of fallopian tube.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which belongs to the genus Mycobacterium, is the pathogenic agent for most tuberculosis (TB). As TB remains one of the most rampant infectious diseases, causing morbidity and death with emergence of multi-drug-resistant and extensively-drug-resistant forms, it is urgent to identify new drugs with novel targets to ensure future therapeutic success. In this regards, the structural genomics of M. tuberculosis provides important information to identify potential targets, perform biochemical assays, determine crystal structures in complex with potential inhibitor(s), reveal the key sites/residues for biological activity, and thus validate drug targets and discover novel drugs. In this review, we will discuss the recent progress on novel targets for structure-based anti-M. tuberculosis drug discovery.
Bacterial Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Drug Discovery ; Genomics ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Targeted Therapy ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; drug effects ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein Conformation

Three pairs of specific primers were designed to amplify the F2-1, F2-2 and XF2-2 truncated sequences of ORF2 which encodes the capsid protein of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2). The F2-1 sequence had most of the NLS region of ORF2, but the F2-2 and XF2-2 genes had the NLS region deleted. Truncated genes were subcloned into pET-32a(+) vectors to construct recombinant fusion expression vectors. The vectors were then transformed into Rosetta(DE3) E. coli and expressed by induction of IPTG. Expressed proteins were detected by western blotting and ELISA. The protein with best immunoreactivity was confirmed and selected, then utilized to inoculate SPF rabbits to prepare polyclonal antibodies. The protein and prepared polyclonal antibody were utilized to detect sera samples against PCV-2 from Shandong province and PCV-2 particles in PK-15 cells. In our study, three recombinant fusion proteins were successfully obtained, and the molecular weights of fusion proteins were 35.9 kDa, 33.6 kDa and 38.6 kDa respectively detected by SDS-PAGE. All of the proteins showed positive reaction with anti-PCV-2 antisera, and His-XF2-2 showed better immunoreactivity than the others. The protein of His-XF2-2 was coated as antigen in ELISA to detect the seroprevalence of PCV-2 in certain districts of Shandong province, the seropositivity rate was 27.7 % (73/264). Specific fluorescence and positive signals for PCV-2 could be detected in PK-15 cells inoculated with PCV-2 with the participation of prepared antibodies against His-XF2-2 in IFA and IPMA. Experimental results indicated that the truncated PCV-2 ORF2 gene containing most of the NLS region was successfully expressed in E. coli, and His-XF2-2 was demonstrated to have better immunoreactivity with anti-PCV-2 antisera than the other two fusion proteins. His-XF2-2 and prepared polyclonal antibodies against it had a satisfactory capability in detecting PCV-2 infection.

Objective To investigate the expression of neural-nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in renal clear cell carcinoma and its clinical significance.Methods The expression of nNOS mRNA in 533 samples of TCGA database was analyzed with Student t test,and statistical analysis was performed to assess the relationship between nNOS expression and clinical prognosis with Kapla-Meier test.Western blot analysis of nNOS protein expression in 10 cases of clear cell renal cell carcinoma(ccRCC) from department of urology of Wuhan union hospital with student t test.Results The mRNA levels of nNOS in 72 cases of ccRCC in tumor tissues and adjacent tissues and were 2.99 ± 0.28 and-1.57 ± 0.17,it is significantly lower than those in adjacent tissues (P ＜ 0.01).The mRNA levels of nNOS in 533 cases of ccRCC,in tumor tissues and adjacent tissues and were 2.99 ± 0.28 and-1.76 ± 0.05,it is significantly lower than those in adjacent tissues (P ＜ 0.01).A total of 533 sample studies showed a low correlation between nNOS expression and clinical T stage,T1-1.59 ±0.08,T2-1.96 ±0.13,T3-1.90 ±0.09,T4-2.38 ±0.28 (P =0.0029) and -1.63 ±0.06 and-2.16 ± 0.13 between non-metastasis and no-metastasis (P =0.0009),and-1.57 ± 0.08 and-2.03 ± 0.11 between non-recurrence and recurrence (P =0.008).Survival analysis showed that the overall survival time were (40.3 ± 5.6) months and (48.3 ± 5.7) months in lower and higher nNOS expression,and disease free survival time were (37.1 ± 2.1) months and (40.3 ± 5.6) months in lower and higher nNOS expression,both with shorter time in low expression of nNOS (P ＜ 0.01).nNOS proteins were 1.02 ± 0.16 and 0.61 ± 0.1 1 in tumor tissues and adjacent tissues with significantly lower expression(P＜0.05).Conclusions The mRNA and protein of nNOS are lower in ccRCC with a poor prognosis of ccRCC.

Nucleocapsid protein (NPs) of negative-sense single-stranded RNA (-ssRNA) viruses function in different stages of viral replication, transcription, and maturation. Structural investigations show that -ssRNA viruses that encode NPs preliminarily serve as structural building blocks that encapsidate and protect the viral genomic RNA and mediate the interaction between genomic RNA and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. However, recent structural results have revealed other biological functions of -ssRNA viruses that extend our understanding of the versatile roles of virally encoded NPs.
Animals ; Capsid ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lassa virus ; chemistry ; physiology ; Nucleocapsid Proteins ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Orthobunyavirus ; chemistry ; physiology ; RNA Viruses ; chemistry ; physiology