Objective: To investigate the effect of combining acupuncture and auricular point sticking on heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with post-stroke depression (PSD). Methods: A total of 80 cases with PSD were randomized into a treatment group and a control group. The control group was intervened by oral administration of paroxetine hydrochloride, whereas the treatment group received acupuncture plus auricular point sticking base on the same oral administration. The Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD) and HRV were measured before and after treatment in both groups. Results: The individual and global scores of HAMD significantly dropped after 8 weeks of treatment in both groups (all P<0.05). In the treatment group, anxiety/somatization factor, sleep disturbance, hopelessness factor, cognition factor and global score were significantly different from those in the control group (all P<0.05). The 24 h standard deviation of all normal-to-normal R-R interval (SDNN), standard deviation of 5-minute average of normal R-R intervals (SDANN), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), percent of differences between adjacent normal R-R intervals >50 ms (PNN50) and high frequency (HF) were increased while low frequency (LF) and LF/HF decreased significantly after 8 weeks of treatment in both groups (P<0.05). All items in the treatment group were significantly different from those in the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Combining acupuncture and auricular point sticking can enhance the conventional medical treatment for HRV in patients with PSD.

To study the protective effect and the mechanism of asiatic acid (AA) from Potentilla chinensis on alcohol hepatic injury in rats. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups: the normal control group, the AA control group (8 mg · kg(-1) AA), the model group (5.0-9.0 g · kg(-1) alcohol) and high, medium and low-dose AA-treated groups (alcohol + 8, 4, 2 mg · kg(-1) AA). Each group was orally administered with the corresponding drugs once a day for 24 weeks. Approximately 1. 5 hours after the final administration, all rats were killed, and their blood samples and hepatic tissues were collected. The AST and ALT in rat serum and the contents of MPO, TNF-α, IL-1β, SOD, GSH-Px, GSH-Rd and MDA in hepatic tissues were detected. The expressions of NF-κB, TLR4, CD14, MyD88, TRIF and protein expression in hepatic tissues were measured by western blot. The pathological changes in liver tissues were observed by histological examination. The results showed that compared with the model group, the AA-treated groups showed significant decreases in serum ALT, AST and MDA and increases in the activities of SOD, GSH-Px, GSH-Rd and MPO. Moreover, AA markedly inhibited the expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, TLR4, CD14, MyD88 and NF-κB. The histological examination showed alleviated hepatic issue ijury to varying degrees. In short, asiatic acid (AA) from P. chinensis could protect alcohol-induced hepatic injury in rats. Its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of NF-κB inactivation and the reduction of inflammatory response.
Animals ; Liver ; drug effects ; pathology ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic ; prevention & control ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; physiology ; Pentacyclic Triterpenes ; pharmacology ; Potentilla ; chemistry ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; antagonists & inhibitors

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), multipotent stem cells, can replicate as undifferentiated cells and have the potential to differentiate into different lineages of mesenchymal tissues, including bone, cartilage,endothelial, neural, smooth muscle, skeletal myoblasts, and cardiac myocyte cells. The ischemia-induced death of cardiomyocytes results in scar formation and reduced contractility of the ventricle. Several preclinical and clinical studies have supported the notion that MSCs therapy may be used for cardiac regeneration.When transplanted into the infracted heart, MSCs prevent deleterious remodeling and improve recovery, but the mechanism is not clear. In this work,we review evidence and new prospects that support the use of MSCs in cardiomyoplasty.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; pathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Neoplasm Staging ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; antagonists & inhibitors

· ATM:To analyze bacterial spectrum and drug sensitivity in conjunctival sac of cataract patients of Kazak.
· METHODS:A total of 538 cases of conjunctival sac secretion in cataract patients of Kazak were collected.The samples were cultured and their sensibilities to antibiotics were tested.
· RESULTS: The bacterial culture was positive in 214 cases.The positive rate was 39.8%. The variety of pathogenic bacteria were mainly made up of gram positive cocci ( 88.3%), and most of them were Staphylococcus epidermidis ( 66.4%), followed by Micrococcus(9.8%).Sex had no effect on conjunctival bacteria rate in the cataract patients of Kazak, while age, place of residence had an effect on camier rate. The camier rate of conjunctival bacteria was significantly higher in people over 60 years old than that in people with age between 40 to 59 years old.And the people from city had a significant lower bacteria positive rate than those from countryside and pastoral. Most of grams were sensitive to Vancomycin, Teicoplanin, Rifampicin, Duly cloth mildew mutual and Amikacin, the tolerance was less than 20%, and they usually had higher tolerance to Penicillin, Erythromycin, Tetracycline and Chloramphenicol (>70%) .
·CONCLUSlON:Gram positivecocci is the most common bacteria in conjunctival sac in cataract patients of Kazak. Staphylococcus epidermidis was most common, followed by Micrococcus.The germ-carrying rate of conjunctival SAC in Kazakh population is associated with the patient’s age and area of residence.The clinical use of antibacterial drugs should be strictly grasp the indications, to reduce the incidence of bacterial resistance.

OBJECTIVETo explore the relation of the anogenital distance (AGD) with cryptorchidism in male newborns.

METHODSThis study included 350 male infants delivered in two community hospitals between September 2013 and September 2014. Within 24 hours after birth, a pediatric surgeon measured the AGD of the neonates and determined whether they had cryptorchidism. According to the testicular position, we divided the undescended testes into three types: upper scrotal, inguinal, and non-palpable.

RESULTSTotally 39 cases of cryptorchidism were found in the 350 newborns. The AGD of the cryptorchidism infants was significantly shorter than that of the normal neonates ([2.01 ± 0.22] vs [2.35 ± 0.19] cm, P < 0.01), and statistically significant differences remained even when preterm and low birth-weight infants were excluded ([2.32 ± 0.14] vs [2.06 ± 0.19] cm; (2.37 ± 0.17) cm vs (2.12 ± 0.12) cm, all P < 0.01). The newborns with higher-position cryptorchidism had a shorter AGD, though with no significant difference (F = 0.434, P > 0.05). No significant differences were observed in the AGD between unilateral and bilateral cryptorchidism ([1.96 ± 0.13] vs [2.02 ± 0.17] cm, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONShorter AGD is associated with a higher incidence of cryptorchidism in male newborns. AGD could serve as a potential biomarker for disruption of androgen action during the male programming window period.

Androgens ; physiology ; Cryptorchidism ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Male ; Perineum ; abnormalities

OBJECTIVETo investigate the infection rate and genotypes of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) by examining bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from children with community acquired pneumonia (CAP).

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for detecting MP in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from 220 children hospitalized with CAP, and the accuracy was confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR. Positive samples were digested with HaeⅡ and Hae Ⅲ and compared with standard strain to analyze the genotypes of MP from positive samples. The accuracy of genotyping was confirmed by sequencing the amplified products of some randomly selected positive samples.

RESULTSThe positive rate of MP in 220 samples was 55.0% (121/220). MP infection occurred mostly in preschool and school-age children (63.5%, 101/159), and the lowest positive rate was seen in children aged under 6 months (20%, 1/5). The positive rate showed no significant differences between sexes and between seasons. Sixty randomly selected MP-positive samples showed a genotype of P1 type 1 after restriction digestion, which was further confirmed by sequencing of 4 samples.

CONCLUSIONSMP is one of the main pathogens of pneumonia in children, and the MP infection rate is significantly correlated with age. The dominant genotype of MP in children is P1 type 1.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Genotype ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae ; classification ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; microbiology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Seasons

OBJECTIVETo screen and evaluate the active constituents of Chinese medicinal herbs as potent inhibitors of Cdc25 phosphatase.

METHODSThe affinity chromatography purified glutashione-S-transferase/Cdc25A phosphatase fusion protein and Cdc2/cyclin B from the extracts of starfish M phase oocytes are used as the cell cycle-specific targets for screening the antimitotic constituents. We tested 9 extracts isolated from the Chinese medicinal herbs and vegetables including the agents currently used in cancer treatment by measuring the inhibition of Cdc25A phosphatase and Cdc2 kinase activity. The antitumor activity of the extracts was also evaluated by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay and flow cytometry.

RESULTSCdc25A inhibitory activity and antitumor activity are detected in the extracts isolated from three Chinese medicinal herbs Agrimona pilosa; Herba solani lyrati; Galla chinesis.

CONCLUSIONWe found three extracts isolated from Chinese medicinal herbs have potential inhibitory activity of Cdc25 phosphatase using a highly specific mechanism-based screen assay for antimitotic drug discovery.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinases ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Lethal Dose 50 ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; pathology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Mitosis ; drug effects ; Phytotherapy ; methods ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; cdc25 Phosphatases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism

Objective:To observe the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture plus Tai Ji Quan (Tai Chi) in recovering the neurological function and treating depression state in post-stroke depression patients,together with a 12-month follow-up.Methods:A total of 105 eligible post-stroke depression patients were randomized into an acupuncture plus Tai Ji group (53 cases) and a control group (52 cases) based on their visiting sequence.The patients all received routine treatment and rehabilitation training for stroke.In addition,the control group was given oral administration of citalopram hydrobromide tablets,1 month as a course of treatment,for 3 courses in total.Meanwhile,the acupuncture plus Tai Ji group received acupuncture and practiced Tai Ji Quan,for 1 month and 12 months respectively.Before the intervention,after 1-month intervention and 12 months later,the National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS),Barthel index (BI) and Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD) were adopted for efficacy evaluation.Results:Prior to the intervention,there were no significant differences in HAMD,NIHSS and BI scores between the two groups (all P＞0.05);after 1-month intervention,there were significant between-group differences in NIHSS,BI and HAMD scores (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01);the 12-month follow-up revealed significant between-group differences in NIHSS,BI and HAMD scores (all P＜0.01).In the treatment of stroke,the total effective rate was 84.4％ in the acupuncture plus Tai Ji group,significantly higher than 68.9％ in the control group (P＜0.05);in the treatment of depression,the total effective rate was 86.7％ in the acupuncture plus Tai Ji group,significantly higher than 77.8％ in the control group (P＜0.05).Conclusion:Acupuncture plus Tai Ji Quan can produce a significant efficacy in improving the limb motor function and depression in post-stroke depression patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) with different fimA genotypes on vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) production by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).

METHODSIn the present study, PgATCC33277 (type I fimA genotype), WCSP 115 (type II fimA genotype), W83 (type IV fimA genotype), and Escherichia coli-lipopolysaccharide (Ec-LPS) were designed as experimental group 1, 2, 3, and positive control group, respectively, to stimulate HUVEC, and the un-stimulated HUVEC were analyzed as negative control group. The three strains of Pg were cultured anaerobically in standard condition, and then the Pg cells and Ec-LPS were co-cultured with HUVEC for 2, 6, and 24 h, respectively. The amount of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 produced by HUVEC was detected with flow cytometry (FCM). The expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 by HUVEC were assayed with confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM).

RESULTSThe expression of ICAM-1 on the surface of HUVEC were intensified after infected by Pg with I, II, and IV fimA genotypes (P < 0.05). The amounts of ICAM-1 were 60.27 ± 5.43, 80.81 ± 1.44, and 85.94 ± 2.56 for Pg with type I fimA genotype, 86.69 ± 8.81, 90.19 ± 0.00, and 96.18 ± 0.48 for Pg with type II fimA genotype, 59.66 ± 0.40, 85.79 ± 4.86, and 96.04 ± 2.07 for Pg with type IV fimA genotype at 2, 6 and 24 h after infection, respectively. The up-regulation effects caused by Pg with type II and IV fimA genotypes were stronger than those caused by Pg with type I fimA genotype at different time points except at 2 h (P < 0.05). Under the present experimental condition, infected by Pg with type I, II and IV fimA genotypes stimulated low expression of VCAM-1 by HUVEC, it showed no significant differences among all the groups (P > 0.05). Expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in Pg infected HUVEC were confirmed by CLSM. Infection of HUVEC with Pg resulted in more fluorescence staining of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 compared with that in uninfected HUVEC cultures.

CONCLUSIONSThe virulence and pathogenicity of Pg is associated with its fimA genotypes, Pg with type II and IV fimA genes possess stronger ability to stimulate HUVEC to up-regulate the expression of cell adhesion molecules, which may lead to disorders in vascular endothelial function.

Cells, Cultured ; Coculture Techniques ; Genotype ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; microbiology ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Up-Regulation ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism