OBJECTIVETo probe factors of influencing therapeutic effects of acupuncture in the patient of insomnia.

METHODSAccording to scores of degrees of anxiety and depression, 52 cases of insomnia were divided into 3 groups, group I (mild or less degree) and group II (moderate degree) and group II (serious degree). The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) were compared before and after treatment in the 3 groups, and between two groups after treatment. Results There were significant differences in the therapeutic effect as the groups I, II compared with the group III (P < 0.01). The total sleep quality in the group I was better than that in the group II (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe degree of anxiety and depression in the patient of insomnia is one of important factors influencing therapeutic effect of acupuncture on insomnia.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Anxiety ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Humans ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

OBJECTIVETo evaluate various kinds of sequences and modified dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI methods in the diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma.

METHODSForty-nine pancreatic carcinoma patients proved by histopathology or clinical examination and follow-up underwent MR examination. Plain MR sequences included: T1-weighted 2D FLASH, T1 WI 3D VIBE, TSE T2 WI and HASTE with FS. Modified dynamic contrast-enhanced scanning procedures were coronal scaning with 3D FLASH and axial scaning using T1 WI 3D VIBE sequences in turn for the upper abdominal area and pancreatic area. The coronal imaging were used to obtain 3D peripancreatic vessels during arterial phase and portal vein phase scanning, respectively. The axial imaging were used to detect the tumor in pancreatic parenchymal phase and delayed phase scanning, respectively. Final scanning for the whole upper abdomen was performed using T1 WI 2D FLASH axial sequence.

RESULTS(1) Of 49 lesions in these patients, 45 showed hypo-intensity and 4 iso-intensity on 3D VIBE. Forty-six lesions showed hypo-intensity and 3 isointensity on 2D FLASH. On TSE T2 + FS, lesion contour was not clear enough; 3 of them displayed isointensity, the other showed iso- or hyper-intensity. (2) During pancreatic parenchymal phase, 48 lesions showed hypo-intensity and 39 ring enhancement. Twenty-four lesions displayed marginal tubercle and inner compartment enhancement during portal vein and delayed phase. Six lesions showed iso- or hyper-intensity in delayed phase. (3) Thirty-seven patients underwent surgical exploration. MRI and MRA had a good correlation with surgical findings for peripancreatic vessels which were diagnosed as being invasive or noninvasive by tumors except three superior mesenteric arteries and four superior mesenteric veins being misdiagnosed.

CONCLUSIONAs"one-stop-shop" MRI examination, modified MRI sequences consisting of dynamic coronal and axial contrast-enhanced scanning is feasible and helpful in diagnosing, staging and assessing the resectability for pancreatic carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; secondary ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance ; Female ; Humans ; Image Enhancement ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; secondary ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Aiming at raising awareness of preventing adverse effects of acupuncture in clinical practices, such cases were studied from the angle of therapy methods, the factors of patients constitution and practitioners. The findings showed that adverse physical and chemical effects of acupuncture increased in modern times because of multifactorial reasons, for instance, the introduction of modern medicine, the differences of individual constitution and the practitioners. This suggests that to decrease adverse cases acupuncture practitioners should be an expert not only in traditional Chinese medicine, but also in western medicine, such as anatomy, and pharmacology.
Acupuncture Therapy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Practice Patterns, Physicians'

This study is to explore the mechanism and effect of N, N'-di-(m-methylphenyl)-3, 6-dimethyl-1, 4-dihydro-1, 2, 4, 5-tetrazine-1, 4-dicarboamide (ZGDHu-1) on proliferation and apoptosis of A549 cells in vitro and on A549 xenograft tumor in nude mice. With different concentrations of ZGDHu-1 at different times were used to treat A549 cells in vitro. The proliferation was determined by living cell count, SRB assay and Brdu-ELISA. Cell apoptosis was determined by cell morphology, DNA agarose gel electrophoresis, DNA content, Annexin V/PI and Hoechst 33258 labeling method. The nude mice model of A549 xenograft tumor was established by subcutaneous inoculation. The suppression activity of ZGDHu-1 by intraperitoneal injection on xenograft mice model was detected. The expressions of bcl-2, bax and p53 gene and protein were analyzed by RT-PCR and flow cytometry. ZGDHu-1 can inhibit A549 cell proliferation viability within a certain range of treating time and does, and a majority of A549 cells were arrested in G2-M phase. The A549 cells apoptosis was confirmed by typical cell morphology, DNA fragment, Sub G1 phase, Hoechst 33258 and Annexin V/PI labeling method with a time and dose related manner. When the xenograft tumor mice model were treated with 10, 20 and 40 mg x kg(-1) ZGDHu-1 for 14 days, the tumor growth inhibition rate were 43.7%, 56.9% and 60.0%, respectively. The expression of bax, bax/bcl-2 and p53 gene and protein increased significantly and bcl-2 decreased slightly by the treatment of ZGDHu-1. ZGDHu-1 can significantly suppress the growth of A549 xenograft tumor in vivo and inhibited proliferation by inducing tumor cell apoptosis in vitro. The mechanism may associate with its up-regulation of bax and p53 during the apoptosis process.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of MRI in evaluating the peripancreatic vessel invasion and resectability of pancreatic carcinoma based on the comparison of MRI image with surgical exploration, and try to establish the criteria for assessment of the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of resectability.

METHODSForty-one pancreatic carcinoma patients confirmed by pathology received preoperative plain and contrast enhanced MRI scan, and 37 of them had additional coronal MRA scan. Peripancreatic vessel invasion was preoperatively assessed based on MRI features, and the vessel invasion degree from the uninvolved to the severely involved was divided into 6 grades represented by 1, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b and 4, respectively. Compared with the findings during the surgery, the sensitivity and specificity of each vessel invasion grade were studied and the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC) was drawn. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of resectability evaluation based on 2 and 2a degree were calculated respectively. The resectability of involved arteries and veins of grade 2 were also analyzed.

RESULTSOf the 41 patients, 22 had resectable tumor, with 20 curative resection and 2 palliative. Compared with the findings during surgery, seven vessels including three arteries and four veins were not correctly interpreted by MRI. If grade 1,2a,2b,3a and 3b was used as the resectable standard,respectively, the sensitivity to predict the unresectbility was 78.3%, 84.8%, 67.4%, 56.5% and 47.8%, respectively. Receiver operator characteristic curve demonstrated that grade 2a was the optimal critical point. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of grade 2a in predicting the unresectbility were 84.8%, 98.5%, 92.9%, 96.6% and 95.9%.

CONCLUSIONOur data showed that grade 2a (tumor involvement < 2 cm long and < 1/2 circumference of the vessel) may be more sensitive and accurate in predicting the resectability, which may be considered as the line of demarcation between the respectable and unresectable cases in clinical practice.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Celiac Artery ; pathology ; Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance ; Female ; Hepatic Artery ; pathology ; Humans ; Image Enhancement ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; pathology ; Mesenteric Veins ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pancreas ; blood supply ; Pancreatectomy ; methods ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Portal Vein ; pathology ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUNDDue to the quick rhythm of life and work pressure, more and more people suffer from sleep quality problems. In this study, we investigated the effect of electroacupuncture on sleep quality of chronic insomniacs and the safety of electroacupuncture therapy.

METHODSFour courses of electroacupuncture treatment were applied to 47 patients. With pre-treatment and post-treatment self-control statistical method, Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) scores were used for evaluating sleep quality. Polysomnogram was used for detecting insomniacs' changes in sleep architecture. The safety of electroacupuncture was evaluated by monitoring the self-designed adverse events and side effects during treatment and post-treatment.

RESULTSElectroacupuncture considerably improved insomniacs' sleep quality and social function during the daytime. Electroacupuncture had certain repairing effect on the disruption in sleep architecture. At the same time, electroacupuncture prolonged slow wave sleep (SWS) time and relatively rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep) time. There was no hangover, addiction or decrements in vigilance during the daytime (incidence rate was 0). However, insomnia rebound rate was about 23% within one month.

CONCLUSIONSThese results suggest that electroacupuncture has beneficial effect on sleep quality improvement in the patients with chronic insomnia, which may be associated with repairing sleep architecture, reconstructing sleep continuity, as well as prolonging SWS time and REM sleep time. Electroacupuncture treatment for chronic insomnia is safe. Therefore, electroacupuncture therapy could be a promising avenue of treatment for chronic insomnia.

Adult ; Aged ; Electroacupuncture ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Sleep, REM

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical treatment outcomes and the changes of the outcomes over time in extremely preterm twins in Guangdong Province, China. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for 269 pairs of extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks who were admitted to the department of neonatology in 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province from January 2008 to December 2017. According to the admission time, they were divided into two groups: 2008-2012 and 2013-2017. Besides, each pair of twins was divided into the heavier infant and the lighter infant subgroups according to birth weight. The perinatal data of mothers and hospitalization data of neonates were collected. The survival rate of twins and the incidence rate of complications were compared between the 2008-2012 and 2013-2017 groups. RESULTS: Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of severe asphyxia and smaller head circumference at birth (P<0.05). The mortality rates of both of the twins, the heavier infant of the twins, and the lighter infant of the twins were lower in the 2013-2017 group compared with the 2008-2012 group (P<0.05). Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of pulmonary hemorrhage, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (P-IVH), and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) and a higher incidence rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS There is a significant increase in the survival rate over time in extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks in the 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province. The incidences of severe asphyxia, pulmonary hemorrhage, PDA, P-IVH, and NRDS decrease in both the heavier and lighter infants of the twins, but the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia increases. With the improvement of diagnosis and treatment, the multidisciplinary collaboration between different fields of fetal medicine including prenatal diagnosis, obstetrics, and neonatology is needed in the future to jointly develop management strategies for twin pregnancy.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/epidemiology* ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To investigate the role of phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1) in tumorigenesis and its potential post-translational modification sites were investigated by bioinformatics method and molecular biology experimental techniques, in order to provide evidence for PGK1 as a hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC) diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target. Methods From pan-cancer's point of view, 10 967 samples were obtained from the cancer genome database TCGAs, and the expression of PGK1 in different tumors was explored by using cBioPortal and UALCAN analysis tools; Focusing on HCC, the expression differences of PGK1 in hepatocellular carcinoma tumor tissues and normal tissues were further analyzed by using GEO database analysis, Real-time PCR, Western blotting and cell invasion assay;The String database was used to analyze the protein-protein interaction network and gene set enrichment analysis; The CSS-Palm database and bioinformatics method were used to predict protein post-translational modification sites on PGK1. Results The PGK1 gene was abnormally amplified and overexpressed in various solid tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma, and overexpression of PGK1 was correlated with a poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. Multiple novel posttranslational modifications were existed on PGK1. Conclusion PGK1 is closely related to the occurrence and development of various cancers including HCC and glycolytic metabolism abnormalities. Epigenetic modifications can regulate PGK1 and affect its cellular function in HCC.

Bartonella species can infect a variety of mammalian hosts and cause a broad spectrum of diseases in humans, but there have been no reports of Bartonella infection in Ochotonidae. This is the first study to detect Bartonella in plateau pikas in the Qinghai plateau, providing baseline data for the risk assessment of human Bartonella infection in this area. We obtained 15 Bartonella strains from 79 pikas in Binggou and Maixiu areas of Qinghai with a positive rate of 18.99%. Based on the phylogenetic analysis of the Bartonella citrate synthase (gltA) gene sequences, most strains were closely related to B. taylorii (3/15) and B. grahamii (12/15). The latter is a pathogenic strain in humans. Our results suggest that a corresponding prevention and control strategy should be taken into consideration in the Qinghai province.
Animals ; Bartonella ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Bartonella Infections ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; transmission ; veterinary ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Lagomorpha ; Male ; Phylogeny