Objective: To investigate the clinical effect of ginger-partitioned moxibustion at Zigong (EX-CA 1) for primary dysmenorrhea. Methods: A total of 112 patients with primary dysmenorrhea were randomized into an observation group and a control group according to their visiting sequence, 56 cases in each group. Patients in the observation group received ginger-partitioned moxibustion at Zigong (EX-CA 1), while patients in the control group received oral intake of analgesic. For both groups, treatment started 1 week before menstruation and lasted for 3 menstrual cycles, continued by a 3-month follow-up visit, then the clinical efficacy was evaluated. Results: By the end of treatment, symptom score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group, showing a statistical significance (P<0.05). After 3 months of treatment, the value of prostaglandin F2a (PGF2α), systolic-to-diastolic peak velocity ratio (S/D), resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group, showing statistical significances (all P<0.01).The recovery rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group, showing a statistical significance (P<0.05). Conclusion: Ginger-partitioned moxibustion at Zigong (EX-CA 1) for primary dysmenorrhea is a combination of the merits of warming function of moxibustion, dissipating function of ginger and stimulation of acupoint, and is better than oral intake of analgesic.

Objective To analyze the correlation between impact positions on the head and hyperextension severities of cervical spinal cord,as well as their treatment.Methods A retrospective analysis was done for 41 cases of hyperextension of cervical spinal cord without fracture-dislocation who had received management in our department from January 1999 to January 2004.All the patients had no cervical disorders before injuries.They were injured by impact mostly on the forehead,cheek or lower mandible.Their neurological findings at admission and 6-month follow-ups were assessed according to ASIA (American Spinal Injury Association) rating system.Results Of the 20 patients who were injured by impact on the forehead,four were rated in neural function as grade B,11 as grade C,and five as grade D at admission,while one as grade C,11 as grade D,and eight as grade E at 6-month follow-up.Of the 12 patients who were injured by impact on the cheek,one was rated in neural function as grade B, four as grade C,and seven as grade D at admission,while one as grade C,two as grade D,and nine as grade E at 6-mouth follow-up.Of the nine patients who were injured by impact on the lower mandible,five were rated in neural function as grade B,three as grade C,and one as grade D at admission,while two as grade B,five as grade C,and two as grade E at 6-month follow-up.The 6-month follow-ups after treatment showed that the neural function was rated below grade C in nine patients,seven of whom had been injured by impact on mandible.Two patients of grade B who showed little improvement after treatment had been injured also by impact on mandible.Conclusion Impact on the lower mandible causes mote severe hyperextension than impact on tbe cheek or forehead.Both rea- sonable non-operative and operative treatments can lead to satisfactory outcome for patients with hyperextension of cervical spinal cord but without fracture-dislocation.

Animals ; Antitussive Agents ; pharmacology ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; methods ; Mice

To generate recombinant adenovirus expression vector of human Sema4C gene and observe its expression in mouse myoblasts cell line C2C12 for ensuring easy access to investigate the role of Sema4C gene during myogenesis. The recombinant plasmid was packaged and amplified after being transfected in HEK293 cells through Lipofectamine. After infecting C2C12 myoblasts with recombinant adenovirus vector, the adenoviral infection efficiency was determined by confocal microscope which showed that the expression of green fluorescence could be detected at 12h and then reached peak at 24h after recombinant adenovirus infection. The infection efficiency was almost 100% confirmed by FACS examination. Detection of WB indicated that the expression of Sema4C in C2C12 of recombinant adenoviral infection group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P

In response to viral infection, RIG-I-like RNA helicases detect viral RNA and signal through the mitochondrial adapter protein VISA. VISA activation leads to rapid activation of transcription factors IRF3 and NF-κB, which collaborate to induce transcription of type I interferon (IFN) genes and cellular antiviral response. It has been demonstrated that VISA is activated by forming prion-like aggregates. However, how this process is regulated remains unknown. Here we show that overexpression of HSC71 resulted in potent inhibition of virus-triggered transcription of IFNB1 gene and cellular antiviral response. Consistently, knockdown of HSC71 had opposite effects. HSC71 interacted with VISA, and negatively regulated virus-triggered VISA aggregation. These findings suggest that HSC71 functions as a check against VISA-mediated antiviral response.
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Aggregation ; genetics ; GPI-Linked Proteins ; metabolism ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; HEK293 Cells ; HSC70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Heat-Shock Response ; genetics ; Humans ; Interferon Regulatory Factor-3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interferon-beta ; genetics ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; Prions ; metabolism ; Receptors, Retinoic Acid ; metabolism ; Viruses ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathogenicity

Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Separation ; methods ; Culture Media ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Respiratory System ; cytology ; Swine

OBJECTIVETo investigate the immunological activity of Streptomyces polysaccharide (SMP) on normal and immunosuppressed mice.

METHODSThe effect of SMP on the proliferating activity of normal mouse splenocytes was tested in the mixed lymphocyte culture, and the changes of peripheral blood T lymphocytes were evaluated with acid a-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) method. The ratio of Lyt2+ and L3T4+ T cell subsets was measured by flow cytometry.

RESULTSSMP stimulated obvious proliferation of mixed lymphocytes, showed protective effects on T lymphocyte and increased the ratio of Lyt2+ and L3T4+ cell subsets to nearly normal level in immunosuppressed mice.

CONCLUSIONSSMP can regulate the immune function in mice.

Animals ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Female ; Immunocompromised Host ; immunology ; Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Polysaccharides ; immunology ; Spleen ; cytology ; Streptomyces ; chemistry ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology

Objective Through studying the effect of Tangnaikang (TNK) on the expression of Smad 2, 3, 7 mRNA of human renal tubular epithelial cells HK-2 induced by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), to explore the mechanism of TNK on prevention and treatment of renal fibrosis. Methods The HK-2 cells were cultured by DMEM/F12 (1∶1) with 10% fetal bovine serum and divided into control group, TGF-β1 group (TGF-β1 10 ng/mL), blank serum control group (TGF-β1 10 ng/mL + 10% animal serum), TNK drug-containing serum therapy groups (TGF-β1 10 ng/mL + 5% TNK or + 10% TNK or + 20% TNK). After 24 h, the expression of Smad 2, 3, 7 mRNA were tested by fluorescence quantitatiye PCR assay. Results After the HK-2 cells were induced by TGF-β1, the expression of Smad 2, 3 mRNA were increased and the expression of Smad 7 mRNA was decreased compared with the control group (P<0.05). The expression of Smad 2, 3 mRNA were decreased and the expression of Smad 7 mRNA was increased in TNK drug-containing serum therapy groups compared with TGF-β1 group (P<0.05), but blank serum control group had no such effect. Conclution TNK could prevent the development of renal fibrosis to some extent through regulating the expression of Smads signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the full-term newborn′s weight in Zhengzhou city and nearby areas around Zhengzhou in Henan province.Methods Each group newborn′s weight was divided with sex and city.We studied the regularity of full-term newborn′s weight,and examined the cause of the newborn′s weight rising.Results The average newborn′s weight in Zhengzhou was (3449.06?453.97) g,which in nearby areas around Zhengzhou was (3352.07?429.91) g.The average newborn′s weight in Zhengzhou was 86.97 g higher than other cities (P

To improve the efficiency of halophilic actinobacteria screening and carry out the rapid selection of targeted strains, we tested 34 strains of Streptomonospora by PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism analysis (PCR-SSCP) based on genus-specific primers for the PCR identification. This approach employs PCR with two pairs of primers located in the 16S rRNA sequence flanking two variable region, then build clustering tree according as SSCP data. Synchronously, we sequenced all the 16S rRNA partial sequences for these strains to verify them. The results showed that the PCR-SSCP analysis was an efficient, easy-to-handle and economic method for rapid selection of halophilic actinobacteria resources.