OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) at neuro-arterial stimulation points with topical western medication in treating post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome (SHS). METHODS: A total of 72 patients with post-stroke SHS were randomly assigned to an observation group (n=36, 2 cases dropped out) and a control group (n=36, 3 cases dropped out). Both groups received standard neurological treatment, comprehensive rehabilitation, and physical therapy. The observation group received EA at neuro-arterial stimulation points, including the ipsilateral stellate ganglion point, vagus nerve trunk and auricular branch (left side), and stimulation points of the radial and ulnar arteries, radial nerve, ulnar nerve, and median nerve, once daily for 4 weeks. The control group was treated with topical diclofenac diethylamine emulgel, and mucopolysaccharide polysulfate cream was added for patients with pronounced early-stage edema, twice a day for 4 weeks. The VAS pain score and hand edema volume were recorded before treatment, at 2 and 4 weeks during treatment, and 2 weeks after treatment completion (follow-up). Musculoskeletal ultrasound was used to measure the thickness of the dorsal hand and middle finger skin on the affected side before and after 4 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the VAS pain scores and edema volume of the affected hand in both groups were decreased at week 2, week 4, and follow-up (P<0.05). At week 4, both groups showed lower VAS pain scores and edema volume than those at week 2 (P<0.05); during follow-up, both VAS pain scores and edema volume were further reduced compared to those at week 4 (P<0.05). At week 2, week 4, and follow-up, the VAS scores and edema volume of the affected hand in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). Compared before treatment, the dorsal hand skin thickness and middle finger skin thickness on the affected side were decreased in both groups after 4 weeks of treatment (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the observation group showed thinner dorsal hand and middle finger skin thickness after 4 weeks of treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSION EA at neuro-arterial stimulation points effectively alleviates pain and edema in patients with post-stroke SHS, and demonstrates superior efficacy compared to topical western medication.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Electroacupuncture ; Aged ; Stroke/complications* ; Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy/physiopathology* ; Treatment Outcome ; Hand

Approximately 140 million people worldwide are homozygous carriers of APOE4 (ε4), a strong genetic risk factor for late onset familial and sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD), 91% of whom will develop AD at earlier age than heterozygous carriers and noncarriers. Susceptibility to AD could be reduced by targeted editing of APOE4, but a technical basis for controlling the off-target effects of base editors is necessary to develop low-risk personalized gene therapies. Here, we first screened eight cytosine base editor variants at four injection stages (from 1- to 8-cell stage), and found that FNLS-YE1 variant in 8-cell embryos achieved the comparable base conversion rate (up to 100%) with the lowest bystander effects. In particular, 80% of AD-susceptible ε4 allele copies were converted to the AD-neutral ε3 allele in human ε4-carrying embryos. Stringent control measures combined with targeted deep sequencing, whole genome sequencing, and RNA sequencing showed no DNA or RNA off-target events in FNLS-YE1-treated human embryos or their derived stem cells. Furthermore, base editing with FNLS-YE1 showed no effects on embryo development to the blastocyst stage. Finally, we also demonstrated FNLS-YE1 could introduce known protective variants in human embryos to potentially reduce human susceptivity to systemic lupus erythematosus and familial hypercholesterolemia. Our study therefore suggests that base editing with FNLS-YE1 can efficiently and safely introduce known preventive variants in 8-cell human embryos, a potential approach for reducing human susceptibility to AD or other genetic diseases.
Humans ; Apolipoprotein E4/genetics* ; Cytosine ; Mutation ; Blastocyst ; Heterozygote ; Gene Editing ; CRISPR-Cas Systems

Whether direct manipulation of Parkinson's disease (PD) risk genes in the adult monkey brain can elicit a Parkinsonian phenotype remains an unsolved issue. Here, we used an adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9)-delivered CRISPR/Cas9 system to directly co-edit PINK1 and DJ-1 genes in the substantia nigras (SNs) of two monkey groups: an old group and a middle-aged group. After the operation, the old group exhibited all the classic PD symptoms, including bradykinesia, tremor, and postural instability, accompanied by key pathological hallmarks of PD, such as severe nigral dopaminergic neuron loss (>64%) and evident α-synuclein pathology in the gene-edited SN. In contrast, the phenotype of their middle-aged counterparts, which also showed clear PD symptoms and pathological hallmarks, were less severe. In addition to the higher final total PD scores and more severe pathological changes, the old group were also more susceptible to gene editing by showing a faster process of PD progression. These results suggested that both genetic and aging factors played important roles in the development of PD in the monkeys. Taken together, this system can effectively develop a large number of genetically-edited PD monkeys in a short time (6-10 months), and thus provides a practical transgenic monkey model for future PD studies.
Animals ; Brain ; CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics* ; Dependovirus/genetics* ; Haplorhini ; Phenotype ; Protein Kinases/genetics*

Whether direct manipulation of Parkinson’s disease (PD) risk genes in the adult monkey brain can elicit a Parkinsonian phenotype remains an unsolved issue. Here, we used an adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9)-delivered CRISPR/Cas9 system to directly co-edit PINK1 and DJ-1 genes in the substantia nigras (SNs) of two monkey groups: an old group and a middle-aged group. After the operation, the old group exhibited all the classic PD symptoms, including bradykinesia, tremor, and postural instability, accompanied by key pathological hallmarks of PD, such as severe nigral dopaminergic neuron loss (>64%) and evident α-synuclein pathology in the gene-edited SN. In contrast, the phenotype of their middle-aged counterparts, which also showed clear PD symptoms and pathological hallmarks, were less severe. In addition to the higher final total PD scores and more severe pathological changes, the old group were also more susceptible to gene editing by showing a faster process of PD progression. These results suggested that both genetic and aging factors played important roles in the development of PD in the monkeys. Taken together, this system can effectively develop a large number of genetically-edited PD monkeys in a short time (6–10 months), and thus provides a practical transgenic monkey model for future PD studies.

Objective To evaluate the optimum compatibility of nalbufine combined with ropivacaine for patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) after cesarean section.Methods A total of 100 parturients who were at full term with a singleton fetus,aged 24-35 yr,with body mass index of 29-33 kg/m2,of American society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅱ,scheduled for elective cesarean section under combined spinal-epidural anesthesia,were divided into 4 groups (n =25 each) using a random number table method:sufentanil 0.5 μg/ml plus 0.15％ ropivacaine group (SR group),nalbufine at final concentration of 0.2 mg/ml plus 0.15％ ropivacaine group (N1 R group),nalbufine at final concentration of 0.4 mg/ml plus 0.15％ ropivacaine group (N2R group) and nalbufine at final concentration of 0.4 mg/ml plus 0.1％ ropivacaine group (N3Rgroup).PCEA solution was prepared correspondingly after surgery,and all the drugs were diluted to 100 ml in normal saline in each group.The PCA pump was set up to deliver a 0.5 ml bolus dose with a 15-min lockout interval and background infusion at 2 ml/h.Visual analog scale scores of incisional pain and anduterine contraction pain were maintained＜4.Ramsay sedation scores were recorded at 8,12,24 and 48 h after surgery.The total pressing times of PCEA were recorded within 48 h after surgery.The development of adverse reactions such as nausea,vomiting,skin itching,numbness of lower extremity,urinary retention and respiratory depression was recorded in the analgesia period.Venous blood samples were collected before surgery and at 24 and 48 h after surgery for determination of plasma prolactin concentrations,and the time of colostrum was recorded.Neonatal nerve and adaptive capacity was assessed and scored.Results Compared with group SR,the total pressing times of PCEA were significantly reduced in N2R and N3R groups (P＜0.05),and no significant change was found in the total pressing times of PCEA in group N1R (P＞0.05).Compared with group N1R,the total pressing times of PCEA were significantly reduced in N2R and N3 R groups (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the total pressing times of PCEA between group N2R and group N3R (P＞0.05).The Ramsay sedation score was 2 in four groups.There was no significant difference in numbness of lower extremity,plasma prolactin concentrations or neonatal nerve and adaptive capacity scores among four groups (P＞0.05).Conclusion Nalbufine at final concentraction of 0.4 mg/ml mixed with 0.1％ ropivacaine is the optimum compatibility when used for PCEA after cesarean section.

Objective To explore the value of the plasma miR-193a-5p level on diagnosis and monitoring the response to treatment in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Methods Peripheral blood samples were obtained from AML patients enrolled in hematology department of the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from July 2015 to December 2015, including 30 de novo AML patients, 9 patients in complete remission (CR) and 6 patients in relapse. Peripheral blood samples from 15 healthy people were randomly choosed as the health control group. Plasma miR-193a-5p expression levels were detected by using quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results The plasma miR-193a-5p relative expression level of AML patients group [0.465 6 (0.103 1-5.000 2)] was obviously lower than that of health control group [0.766 1 (0.052 1-3.134 4)] (U= 122, P= 0.018 7). The plasma miR-193a-5p relative expression levels of de novo group and relapse AML group were significantly lower than those of CR group and health control group (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between the CR group and health control group (U= 56, P= 0.511 9). No significant correlation was found between the plasma miR-193a-5p level and age, gender, blast percentage of the bone marrow, peripheral blood leukocyte count, platelet count, CD34+cells'percentage and so on. Conclusion The decreased plasma miR-193a-5p expression level can be served as a new and noninvasive biomarker for the evaluation of diagnosis and treatment in AML.

Gold nanochannels were prepared using Al2 O3 nanotubules membrane as the carrier and modified with chitosan by a classical N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N-ethyl carbodiimide ( EDC)/N-hydroxysuccinimide ( NHS ) coupling reaction. The nanochannels were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy ( FESEM) , cyclic voltammetry and AC impedance method. The Au nanochannels modified with chitosan showed a chiral environment and can be used to separate histidine enantiomer. The effects of pore size and solution pH on the separation efficiency of histidine were investigated. To increase the detection sensitivity of D-, L-histidine, Ag nanoparticles were used to enhance the surface enhanced Raman scattering ( SERS) activity. The results showed that the chitosan-modified gold nanochannels can be used to separate chiral histidine based on this unique selective nanochannel membrane. L-Histidine and D-histidine were respectively detected by SERS at wavelengths of 1000 and 1590 cm-1 . The results showed that L-histidine and D-histidine were separated well in the mixture containing 200 μL of histidine, 100 μL of colloidal Ag and 100 μL of 80 mmol/L NaCl ( pH=7 . 59 ) with a separation efficiency of 4 . 91 .

Objective To explore the clinical effects of transvaginal acupoint injection in the treatment of chronic pelvic pain induced by pelvic floor myofascitis. Methods All 80 patients with pelvic floor myofascitis were randomly assigned to an observation group and a control group, with 40 patients in each group. The observation group was given the treatment of transvaginal pain spot injection, and the control group was given transvaginal non-pain spot injection. Changes of clinical symptoms, signs, pain scores and other indices before the treatment, 1 week and 2 weeks after the treatment between the two groups of patients were observed and compared. Results Comparison of pain scores between the treatment group and the control group before the treatment was not significantly different (P>0.05); pain scores after the treatment in the two groups were significantly lower compared to those before the treatment, and the differences in the two groups were both significant (P<0.01). The curative effects in the treatment group were better than those in the control group (P<0.01). Conclusion Transvaginal acupoint injection is able to significantly alleviate chronic pelvic pain induced by pelvic floor myofascitis, but accurate pain spot injection is required.

This study investigated the "homing" phenomenon in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The "homing" specificity of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) by establishing an orthotopic implantation model in nude mice. EPCs harvested from the marrow cells were separated by density gradient centrifugation. Fluorescence microscope, flow cytometry (FCM) and double fluorescence staining with FITC-UEA-I and DiI-ac-LDL, were employed to identify the cells. 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) labelling and real-time PCR were used for detecting the expression of CD133 and chemokines to trace and observe the distribution of EPCs. Our results showed that the distribution rate of EPCs was obviously higher than that in other important organs and the negative control group. Detection of CD133 and chemokines yielded similar results in difference tissues. Our experiment confirmed that the chemotaxis of EPCs does exist in HCC. Moreover, HIF-1α, SDF-1 and VEGF might play important roles in the "homing" of EPCs in HCC. EPCs might be a potential candidate for targeting vector of HCC for gene therapy.
Animals ; Endothelial Cells ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Nude ; Stem Cells ; pathology