Benzene ; poisoning ; DNA Damage ; DNA Repair ; genetics ; Deoxyguanosine ; analogs & derivatives ; genetics ; Humans ; Mutagens ; poisoning ; Poisoning ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the short-term and long-term effects on treatment of neck pain caused by cervical spondylosis with the combination of acupuncture and moxibustion with seed-size moxa cone.

METHODSOne hundred and forty-five patients of neck pain were randomly divided into an acupuncture-moxibustion group (49 cases), an acupuncture group (48 cases) and a moxibustion group (48 cases). Acupoints of Bailao (Extra), Dazhui (GV 14), Jianzhongshu (SI15) and Zhongzhu (TE 3) were adopted for all the 3 groups. Acupuncture was applied at all the acupoints with 20 min needling retention for the acupuncture group. Moxibustion with seed-size moxa cone was used with 5 cones on each point for the moxibustion group. And both acupuncture and moxibustion with seed-size moxa cone were adopted for the acupuncture-moxibustion group. The treatment was applied once every 3 days, and 10 treatments should be finished within 4 weeks. Follow-up should be carried out for 3 months. The short-term and long-term effects were evaluated with the scores of Northwick Park Pain Questionnaire (NPQ) and McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) as the indices of therapeutic effect.

RESULTSThe NPQ score and MPQ score of all the 3 groups after the treating course and the 3-month follow-up were both decreased when compared with those before the treatment (all P<0. 05). The scores of NPQ and MPQ the acupuncture-moxibustion group were lower than that of the other two groups. And the difference had obvious significance (P<0. 05). High efficiency of pain relieving for cervical spondylosis could be found in all the 3 groups, which showed that short-term and long-term effects were good for all the 3 groups. And the highest curative effect could be found in acupuncture-moxibustion group.

CONCLUSIONCombination of acupuncture and moxibustion with seed-size moxa cone has reached a superior effect in short-term and long-term for neck pain caused by cervical spondylosis.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; instrumentation ; Neck Pain ; etiology ; therapy ; Spondylosis ; complications ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; diagnosis ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Larynx ; pathology

Objective:To characterize the volatile compounds in 10 batches of disposable infusion sets and 6 batches of nasal can-nulas by GC-MS and determine the main odor-active compounds. Methods:The volatile components were extracted using a headspace sampler. An HP-5MS capillary column (30 m × 0. 25 mm,0. 25 μm) was adopted, and the qualitative analysis was performed by total ion chromatography ( TIC) of full scan with temperature programmer. Results:A total of 19 major volatile compounds were identified, which were hydrocarbon, alcohol and carbonyl compounds (such as aldehyde and ester). Based on the combination of odor test and GC-MS, the concentration of alcohol compounds (2-ethyl hexanol, 2-EH) had the most notable effect on the odor of samples. Conclu-sion:The samples with unacceptable order contain 2-EH with relatively high content, which should be paid more attention.

Objective To observe the effect of modified Qinghao Biejia Decoction ( QBD) on Th17 cells and renal pathology of MRL/lpr mice with spontaneous systemic lupus erythematosus. Methods Thirty-two female MRL/lpr mice aged 8 to 10 weeks were divided into 4 groups: model group, Chinese medicine group, prednisone group, and combination group, 8 mice in each group. Eight female C57BL/6 mice aged 8 to 10 weeks served as normal control. Mice in Chinese medicine group were given concentrated solution of modified QBD (19.25 g·kg-1·d-1), mice in the prednisone group were given water solution of prednisone acetate (8.75 mg·kg-1·d-1) , mice in the combination group were given the above two kinds of medicine, and mice in the model group and normal control group were given physiological saline. After medication for 7 weeks, spleens and kidneys in all of the groups were taken out for the experiment. Th17 cells in splenic mononuclear cell suspension were detected by flow cytometry, the pathological changes of renal tissue were observed under light microscope, and activity index (AI) of renal tissue in lupus nephritis mice was scored. Results The proportion of Th17 cells in the model group was significantly higher than that of normal control group ( P<0.05) . The proportion of Th17 cells in Chinese medicine group and combination group was lower than that of the model group ( P<0.05) , and prednisone group had higher proportion of Th17 cells than Chinese medicine group ( P<0.05) . Compared with the model group, pathological changes of renal tissue were relieved, and AI scores were decreased in Chinese medicine group, the prednisone group and the combination group ( P<0.05) . Except for the normal control group , AI scores in all groups were positively correlated with the proportion of Th17 cells ( r=0.77, P<0.01) . Conclusion Modified QBD can inhibit the expression of Th17 cells and improve the pathological changes of MRL/lpr mice with lupus nephritis.

AIM: To isolate targeted the peptides that binding and internalizing into endometrial carcinoma cell line EAC. METHODS: The tumor cells were screened five rounds of whole cell screen through the Ph.D.-12 phage display library. Analysis of the displayed peptides specific binding efficiency to the tumor cells was proceeded. The DNA of phages was extracted, sequenced and translated to the sequences of amino acid and analysis using computer software. RESULTS: After five biopannings, the isolated phages showed high specificity and strong affinity for their cognate cell types relative to different cell lines. Through sequencing, the sequences of displayed peptides were obtained. CONCLUSIONS: Whole cell screening against EAC cells through random phage peptide library can obtain phage peptides with a highly tissue specific binding and internalizing ability. The peptides do provide a basis for tumor's targeted delivery as therapy vector.

Objective To investigate the molecular mechanism of solanine-induced apoptosis of prostate cancer cells Du145 and LNCaP.Methods The effects of solanine on the viability of Du145 and LNCaP cells were evaluated by MTT assay.The generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and solanine-induced apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry.The protein levels of p38 and p-p38 expressions were examined by Western blot.Results Solanine significantly inhibited the viability of Du145 and LNCaP cells in a dose-dependent manner (P＜0.01).The inhibition of solanine on cell viability was suppressed by the ROS scavenger NAC.ROS generation,apoptosis and phosphorylation of p38 were induced by treatment with solanine at 40 μmol/L for 24 h.The expression of p38 and solanine-induced apoptosis were suppressed by NAC and SB203580.Conclusion Solanine induces the apoptosis of human prostate cancer cell via the RO.S-p38 signaling pathway.

Benzene ; poisoning ; Hazardous Substances ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo observe the levels of high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), IL-6, troponin I (Tn I) release in septic rats, and to explore themechanism of Taohong Qinlian Decoction (TQD) in the treatment of septic myocardial injury.

METHODSA total of 48 healthy male Wistar rats of clean grade were randomly divided into the sham-operation group (Sham), the sepsis model group (CLP), and the TQD treatment group (ZY), 16 in each group. Concen-trations of TNF-α, IL-6, Tn I, and HMGB1 expression were detected in each group at 24 and 48 h after operation. Pathological changes of cardiac muscle were observed under light microscope.

RESULTSConcentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, Tn I and HMGB1 at 24 and 48 h after operation were significantly higher in the CLP group than in the Sham group (P < 0.01). Concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, Tn I, and HMGB1 at 24 and 48 h after operation were significantly lower in the ZY group than in the CLP group (P < 0.05). Myocardial injury occurred in the CLP and the ZY group under light microscope. And this injury was more severe in the CLP group than in the ZY group.

CONCLUSIONTQL could reduce the level of sepsis-related inflammatory cytokines and protect myocardium in septic rats.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; HMGB1 Protein ; metabolism ; Heart ; drug effects ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sepsis ; pathology ; Troponin I ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the effect of polymorphism of TNF-?gene G308A on sever- ity of myocardial damage during cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB).Methods Sixty-three congenital ca- ses with ventrieualr septal defect(VSD)were divided into groups TNF1 and TNF2 after TNF-?gene pol- ymorphism was identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR- RFLP)before surgery.When the right atrium was opened and closed,specimens of myocardium were ob- tained to study the ultrastructural changes by electron microscope and determine expression of TNF-?mR- NA.Concentration of TNF-?in plasma was measured by radio-immunity after anesthetic induction(T1), 20 minutes of CPB(T2),at the end of CPB(T3) and six hours after CPB(T4)in all cases,respective- ly.Results (1)TNF-?level and the expression of TNF-?mRNA in myocardium were significantly increased during CPB(P＜0.05)in both groups.(2)TNF-?mRNA level of group TNF2 was significant- ly higher than that of group TNF1(P＜0.05).The myocardial CK-MB in group TNF2 was significantly higher than that in group TNF1 at 24 hours postoperatively(P＜0.01).The electron microscope showed more severe ultrastructural changes of myocardium in TNF2 group compared with that in group TNF1(P＜0.05).(3)The concentration of TNF-?in blood plasma in group TNF2 was significantly higher than that in group TNF1 at time points of T2-T4(P＜0.05).Conclusion Polymorphism of TNF-?gene G308A may influence the transcription and production of TNF-?in vivo and hence affect severity of myo- cardial damage.