Objective To compare the analgesic efficacy and safety of the sole local anesthetic ropivacaine with the combination of both local anesthetic ropivacaine and opioidergic analgesic sufen-tanil given epidurally on the labor pain control.Methods After institutional review board approval and patient consent,a total of 481 nulliparas requesting epidural labor analgesia were randomized into two groups:a sole local anesthetic group (0.125% ropivacaine,group R)and a combination of local anesthetic and opioidergic analgesic group (0.125% ropivacaine+0.3 μg/ml sufentanil,group RS). Analgesic efficacy was measured using numerical rating scale (NRS)of pain and maternal visual ana-logue scale (VAS)analgesia satisfaction with regard to the first and the second stage of labor.Anal-gesic safety was measured with the Bromage scale of maternal safety and epidural labor analgesia re-lated side effects,as well as fetal safety including Apgar scoring and umbilical cord artery blood gas a-nalysis.Results A total of 346 participants completed the study,with 1 64 and 182 women in each group R and RS,respectively.The median NRS pain score during the first stage of labor was signifi-cantly lower in the combination group (2.2,IQR:1.8-2.7 )comparing to the sole local analgesic group (2.4,IQR:2-2.8)(P <0.001).No significant difference was observed in NRS pain score dur-ing the second stage of labor.Patients in both groups were rated the same VAS satisfaction of analge-sia.Patients in the sole local analgesic group experienced fewer side effects than those in the combina-tion group (37.7% versus 47.2%,P =0.082).The incidence of 1-min Apgar≤7 was lower in the sole local analgesic group 2 (1.2%) than the combination group 10 (5.5%) (P < 0.05 ). Conclusion The sole local anesthetic ropivacaine produces a comparable labor analgesic effect as the combination of both local anesthetic ropivacaine and opioidergic analgesic sufentanil but the former has less maternal side effects,and less incidence of lower 1-min Apgar scoring.

Forearm ; innervation ; Ganglion Cysts ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Skeletal ; innervation ; surgery ; Tendons ; surgery ; Ulnar Nerve ; surgery

Background Researches showed that transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2) promotes the activity of human Tenon capsular fibroblasts (TFs),which plays a role in the scarring of filtering blebs after antiglaucoma surgery.However,its mechanism is not fully clear.Lysyl oxidases (LOXs) are important extracellular matrix proteases which can catalyze the cross-linking of collagen and elastin.Investigating the impact of TGF-β2 on the expression of LOXs has a great significance for the understanding of the pathogenesis of filtering bleb scarring and its prevention.Objective This study was to investigate the effect of TGF-β2 on the expression of LOXs in cultured human TFs.Methods The TFs at 4-8 generations were divided into normal control group and different concentrations of TGF-β2 treated-groups,and 100,200,400,800 μ1 of TGF-β2 with the final concentration of 2,4,8 and 16 ng/ml was added into the medium to treat human TFs respectively for 24 hours.The LOXs in the cells were detected by Western blot to determine the optimal dose of TGF-β2.The 4 ng/ml TGF-β2(200 μ1) was used to treat human TFs for 6,12,24 and 48 hours respectively,and the change of LOXs expression in the cells over time was assayed by Western blot.The expression and distribution of LOX protein in the normal cells and TGF-β2-treated cells was detected by using immunofluorescence technique.This study was approved by Daping Hospital of Third Military Medical University Ethic Commission.The guardians of the patients who offered the specimen knew the purpose of the study and signed informed consent.Results Western blot assay showed that the expressions of LOX,LOXL1,LOXL2,LOXL3 and LOXL4 in the cells were gradually elevated from the normal control group and 2,4,8,16 ng/ml TGF-β2-treated groups,showing significant differences among the groups (F =37.338,13.438,31.067,11.767,15.167,all at P＜0.01).The expression of LOXL2 protein in the cells was 0.68±0.07,1.09±0.10,1.32±0.07,1.50± 0.06 and 1.89±0.12 in the normal control group and 6-,12-,24-and 48-hour groups respectively after 4 ng/ml TGF-β2 treatment,with a significant increase over time (F =82.832,P=0.000).The expression of LOX was weak in the normal cultured TFs,while the fluorescence intensity of LOX expression was evidently enhanced in the cytoplasm of the cells in the TGF-β2-treated group.Conclusions TGF-β2 upregulates the expressions of LOXs in human TFs in a dose-and time-dependent manner,which probably offers a basis for the further study on the prevention of filtering bleb scarring after glaucoma surgery.

Objective To investigate the relationship of the levels of peroxisome proliferator- activated receptor-?(PPAR-?)mRNA,MMP-9 with the severity of coronary artery lesions in patients with coronary heart disease(CHD).Methods One hundred and fifty three patients with CHD who underwent coronary angiography were admitted.The expression of PPAR-?mRNA in lymphocytes of peripheral blood was detected by using RT-PCR,the level of MMP-9 enzyme was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorent assay,and the severity of coronary artery lesions were analyzed. Results As compared with control(0.624-0.13),PPAR-?mRNA expression was significantly lower in CHD patients(0.4+0.12).Negative correlation was found between PPAR-?mRNA and the classification(r=-0.56,P＜0.01)of coronary artery lesions,so was the number of coronary artery lesions(r=-0.42,P＜0.01).MMP-9 level was significantly higher in CHD patients(1.27?0.16)?g/L than that in controls(1.21?0.05)?g/L.Positive correlation was found between MMP-9 level and the classification(r=0.36,P＜0.01)of coronary artery lesions,so was the number of coronary artery lesions(r=0.30,P＜0.01).Negative correlation was also found between PPAR-?mRNA expression and MMP-9 level.Conclusions PPAR-?is a negative regulator of coronary artery lesions and PPAR-?inhibits the activation of MMP-9.It may be a valuable method for protecting patients from the incident of coronary artery disease to activate the expression of PPAR-?and decrease the level of MMP-9.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of two specific cyclooxygenase inhibitors (SCI), rofecoxib and celecoxib, combined with chemotherapeutic drugs 5-Fu, DDP and VP-16 on gastric cancer cell line BGC-823, and to evaluate whether specific cyclooxygenase inhibitors can be used as a synergetic agent in chemotherapy.

METHODSThe gastric cancer cell line BGC-823 cells were incubated for 48 hours with rofecoxib and celecoxib, 5-Fu, DDP and VP-16 (concentration gradient of 5-Fu, DDP and VP-16:1 microg/ml, 10 microg/ml and 100 microg/ml), or in combination, respectively. MTT working solution was added to each culture and calculated the survival rates of gastric cancer cells. Median-effect principle and Professor Jin's evaluation methods were applied to detect the interaction between the specific cyclooxygenase inhibitors and chemotherapeutic agents.

RESULTSThe inhibition rates of gastric cancer cells were 42.63% +/- 1.26% and 50.67% +/- 2.35% by treatment with 0.1 micromol/L rofecoxib and 50 micromol/L celecoxib, respectively. The inhibition rates of gastric cancer cells by treatment with 5-Fu, DDP and VP-16 at different concentrations (1 microg/ml, 10 microg/ml and 100 microg/ml) were 39.75% +/- 3.14%, 49.96% +/- 2.08%, 87.93% +/- 3.66%; 48.28% +/- 2.08%, 59.46% +/- 1.69%, 88.23% +/- 4.81%; and 29.23% +/- 3.27%, 49.34% +/- 3.75%, 79.24% +/- 2.44%, respectively. However, the inhibition rates showed a synergetic role while combined the two SCI (0.1 micromol/L rofecoxib and 50 micromol/L celecoxib) with chemotherapeutic agent at different concentrations (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONBoth rofecoxib and celecoxib have an ability to suppress gastric cancer cells in vitro, and the synergetic role becomes evident when rofecoxib and celecoxib are combined with chemotherapeutic agents at different concentrations, which indicate that the two specific cyclooxygenase inhibitors may be used as a chemotherapeutic sensitizer.

Adenocarcinoma ; pathology ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Celecoxib ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Synergism ; Etoposide ; pharmacology ; Fluorouracil ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Lactones ; pharmacology ; Pyrazoles ; pharmacology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; Sulfonamides ; pharmacology ; Sulfones ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacy on chronic ulcerative colitis between electroacupuncture (EA) combined with acupoint sticking therapy (AST) and western medicine.

METHODSNinety cases were randomly divided into EA + AST group and western medication group, 45 cases in each one. In EA + AST group, (1) Zhongwan (CV 12), Tianshu (ST 25), Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6) and (2) Shangjuxu (ST 37), Pishu (BL 20), Dachangshu (BL 25), Zusanli (ST 36) were selected for EA and AST by turns. In western medication group, Mesalazine was administered orally. Clinical symptom evaluation and colonoscopic examination were conducted respectively before and after treatment, and the differences in efficacy were compared.

RESULTSIn EA + AST group, the total effective rate of clinical symptoms was 91.1% (41/45) and the total effective rate of the colonoscopic improvements in mucosal lesions was 84.4% (38/45), which were all superior to those (73.3%, 33/45; 66.7%, 30/45) in medication group (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe combination of electroacupuncture and acupoint sticking therapy can improve in clinical symptoms and colonoscopic mucosal lesions significantly in the patients with ulcerative colitis and the efficacy of it is superior to that of Mesalazine.

Acupuncture Points ; Administration, Cutaneous ; Adult ; Chronic Disease ; therapy ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Drug Users ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis E ; epidemiology ; virology ; Hepatitis E virus ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of the TEKT4 protein in the pathogenesis of idiopathic asthenozoospermia.

METHODSWe separated and purified the ejaculated sperm from idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients and normozoospermic men by Percoll discontinuous density gradients, and detected the distribution and the expressions of TEKT4 mRNA and TEKT4 protein by RT-PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSRT-PCR revealed that the expression of TEKT4 mRNA was significantly lower in the sperm of the idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients than in those of the normozoospermic men (0.59 +/- 0.13 vs 0.75 +/- 0.15, t = 4.325, P < 0.05), and Western blot confirmed the results of RT-PCR (0.48 +/- 0.14 vs 0.69 +/- 0.13, t = 5.939, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of TEKT4 is significantly decreased in the ejaculated sperm of idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients, which might be one of the causes of idiopathic asthenozoospermia.

Adult ; Asthenozoospermia ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Case-Control Studies ; Cytoskeletal Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of the cation channel of sperm 1 (CatSper1) protein in the pathogenesis of idiopathic asthenozoospermia.

METHODSSperm samples from patients with idiopathic asthenozoospermia were separated by Percoll discontinuous density gradients, and the distribution and expression of the CatSper1 protein were determined by immunocytochemistry. Western blotting was used to detect the different expressions of CatSper1 in the ejaculated sperm from the normal control, mild asthenozoospermia, moderate asthenozoospermia and severe asthenozoospermia groups, followed by statistical analyses.

RESULTSThe expression of CatSper1, located in the principle piece of the sperm tail, was reduced significantly in the samples from the idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients as compared with the normal controls (t = 2.188, P = 0.042). The relative contents of the CatSper1 protein in the sperm of the control, mild asthenozoospermia, moderate asthenozoospermia and severe asthenozoospermia groups were 0.806 +/- 0.266, 0.669 +/- 0.207, 0.505 +/- 0.214 and 0.295 +/- 0.162, respectively, significantly decreased in the asthenozoospermia patients in comparison with the normal controls (P <0.05). There was a positive correlation between the percentage of progressively motile sperm and the relative content of the CatSper1 protein (r = 0.633, P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONThe decreased or abnormal expression of the CatSper1 protein may be a factor involved in the pathogenesis of idiopathic asthenozoospermia.

Adult ; Asthenozoospermia ; metabolism ; Calcium Channels ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Spermatozoa ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of the SEPT4 protein in the pathogenesis of idiopathic asthenozoospermia.

METHODSSamples of ejaculated sperm from idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients and normozoospermic men were separated and purified by Percoll discontinuous density gradients, the distribution and expression of SEPT4 in the sperm samples were determined by immunocytochemistry, and the expressions of SEPT4 mRNA and SEPT4 protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSImmunocytochemistry showed that the expression of SEPT4, located in the annulus, was significantly reduced in the sperm of the idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients (t = 3.452, P < 0.01). RT-PCR revealed that the expression of SEPT4 mRNA was significantly lower in the sperm of the idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients than in those of the normozoospermic men (t = 3.521, P < 0.05). Western blot confirmed the results of RT-PCR (t = 5.872, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of SEPT4 is significantly decreased in the ejaculated sperm of idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients, which might be one of the causes of idiopathic asthenozoospermia.

Adult ; Asthenozoospermia ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Septins ; metabolism ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; metabolism ; Young Adult