Objective:To observe the effects of acupoint application on TRPV1 expression on skin and lung tissue and levels of serum IFN-γ and IL-4 of mice with bronchial asthma, and to explore the mechanism of acupoint application in the treatment of asthma.Methods:75 BALB/C mice were divided into control group, model group, acupoint application group, sham application group and dexamethasone group, 15 in each group. The bronchial asthma model of mice was prepared by nasal drop method of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinuus (HDM). After the modeling, the acupoints such as "Feishu", "Xinshu" and "Geshu" of each side of the mice were taken for application. The acupoint application group was treated with white mustard seed, Corydalis yanhusuo, asarum and Gansui group, while the sham application group was treated with vaseline, once a day, 14 times in total. Emka-wbp pulmonary function detection system was used to detect airway resistance in mice. The expression of TRPV1 on lung tissues and skin tissues were detected by immunohistochemical method. The levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 were detected by ELASA method.Results:After the stimulation of methacholine chloride solution at the concentrations of 12.5, 25.0 and 50.0 mg/ml, compared with the model group, the Penh value (airway high resistance) of mice in the acupoint application group and dexamethasone group decreased ( P<0.05). HE staining and Sirius red staining of lung tissue showed that inflammatory infiltration and collagen fiber proliferation had been improved ( P<0.05). Compared with model group, the expression of TRPV1 (0.28±0.06, 0.28±0.05 vs. 0.31±0.08) in lung tissues of acupoint application group and dexamethasone group significantly decreased ( P<0.05). The levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 in BALF decreased ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The mechanism of skin reaction induced by acupoint application in treating asthma may be related to the changes of IFN-γ, IL-4 and other related factors caused by the activation of TRPV1 in lung tissues and skin tissues.

Objective:To explore the associations of platelet parameters platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW) and plateletcrit (PCT) with the risk for stroke in people with different blood pressure levels.Methods:All the participants were from Dongfeng-Tongji cohort, including 38 295 retired employees from Dongfeng Motor Corporation at the first follow-up survey. After excluding participants with coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, history of platelet influential drug use and those with missed data of platelet parameters or blood pressure or lost to follow-up, finally a total of 21 294 participants were included in this study. All the participants completed baseline questionnaires, physical examinations, clinical biochemical tests, and blood sample collection. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the hazard ratios ( HRs) and the corresponding 95% confident intervals ( CIs) for the associations between platelet parameters and risk for stroke in people with different blood pressure levels. Results:After a mean follow-up of 8.0 years, 1 578 participants developed incident stroke [1 266 ischemic stroke (IS) cases and 312 hemorrhagic stroke (HS) cases]. Compared with the participants with PLT<188×10 9/L, those with PLT≥188×10 9/L among hypertension cases were significantly associated with higher risks for stroke and IS (stroke: HR=1.27, 95% CI: 1.12-1.44; IS: HR=1.39, 95% CI: 1.21-1.60). Among hypertension group, compared with participants with PCT<0.165%, PCT≥0.165% were significantly associated with higher risk for stroke ( HR=1.15, 95% CI: 1.01-1.30) and lower risk for HS ( HR=0.70, 95% CI: 0.53-0.93); Among non-hypertension and hypertension group, PCT ≥0.165% were significantly associated with higher risks of IS ( HR=1.27, 95% CI: 1.05-1.54; HR=1.31, 95% CI: 1.14-1.50). MPV and PDW were not significantly associated with risk for stroke. Risk for stroke increased significantly in hypertension cases with different platelet parameters levels compared with non-hypertension cases with lower levels of each platelet parameters. Conclusion:Higher levels of PLT and PCT could increase the risks for stroke and IS in middle-aged and elderly hypertension patients, and lower levels of PCT could decrease the risk for HS in hypertension patients.

It is of important significant to predict the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection in clinic. Various risks scoring systems can achieve better prediction effect by integrating a variety of risk factors, but they still need to be perfected. Recent researches have found that some genotypes and genetic variations are associated with the occurrence of HCC and they can indicate the tumorigenesis of HCC. Some known or newly discovered indicators such as WFA⁺ -M2BP can be used to predict the occurrence of HCC independently or jointly. With the development of research, more genes, indicators as well as newly built scoring system will be utilized to predict the occurrence of HCC in clinic.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture at Xinming points (Extra) plus strong rein-forcing mani- pulation in treating optic atrophy.Methods Forty (56 eyes) optic atrophy patients were randomly allocated to a treatment group of 20 cases (29 eyes) and a control group of 20 cases (27 eyes). The control group received conventional medications, and the treatment group received acupuncture at Xinming points (Extra) plus strong reinforcing manipulation in addition. The visual acuity, the mean visual sensitivity (MS) of visual field and the P100 wave latency of P-VEP were recorded in the two groups before and after the treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups.Results The visual acuity, the MS of visual field and the P100 wave latency of P-VEP were significantly changed after treatment in both two groups (P<0.05). After the treatment, there were statistically significant differences in the visual acuity, the MS of visual field and the P100 wave latency of P-VEP between the two groups (P<0.05). The total efficacy rate was 75.0% in the treatment group versus 35.0% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).Conclusions Acupuncture at Xinming points (Extra) plus strong reinforcing manipulation is an effective method for optic atrophy.

Objective To study the expression and the clinical significance of Wnt signal pathway regulation factor Pygo2 in human renal cell carcinoma.Methods Using RFQ-PCR and immunohistochemical SP methods to detect Pygo2 mRNA and protein expression in 42 cases renal clear cell carcinoma and their own normal kidney tissue specimens.All specimens had a definite diagnosis by pathologic.All were renal clear cell carcinoma.The tumor diameter was 1.2-15.5 cm.The average was 7.2 cm.Among all patients,there were 7 cases with diameter ＜ 4.0 cm,9 cases 4.0-7.0 cm,26 cases ＞ 7.0 cm.Fuhrman classification:grade Ⅰ 6 cases,grade Ⅱ 17 cases,grade Ⅲ 17 cases,grade Ⅳ 2 cases.AJCC TNM stages:stage Ⅰ 16 cases,stage Ⅱ 7 cases,stage Ⅲ 7 cases,stage Ⅳ 12 cases.Statistics was done to analyze the expression difference of pygo2 between normal kidney and renal cell carcinoma,and among renal cell carcinoma within each group.Results There was higher expression of Pygo2 in renal cell carcinoma,and in the adjacent lower expression.The pygo2 mRNA expression were 2.88 ± 1.26 and 1.00 ± 0.00 in respective specimens (P ＜ 0.0001).The pygo2 protein expression were 45.53 + 24.54 and 11.02 + 1.39 in respective specimens (P ＜ 0.0001).Pygo2 expression in grading and staging were statistically significant (P ＜0.0001),but in gender,age was not statistically significant (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions High expression of Pygo2 was found in Fuhrman high grade,high clinical staging,lympho-metastasized renal clear cell carcinoma.Pygo2 might play an important role in the occurrence and development process in renal clear cell carcinoma.

Objective To investigate the medical assistance to inpatients from low-income families for solving their difficulties in seeing doctors and affordability.Methods Random sampling was made to five ongoing medical assistance projects in the hospital for statistics and analysis of the data so collected.Results Medical expenses of such inpatients are beyond their affordability.Despite the coverage of their basic medical insurance,the reimbursement rate is too low to alleviate their financial burden.Conclusion A“4-party payment”model is recommended,combining the government support for basic medical insurance,social welfare assistance,philanthropic assistance and that paid by the inpatients.This model is expected to effectively alleviate the financial burden of such inpatients.

Chronic and heavy alcohol consumption is one of the causes of heart diseases. However, the effects of ethanol on insulin sensitivity in myocardium has been unclear. To investigate the effects of ethanol on the expression of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), all of which are involved in the regulation of insulin sensitivity, in the myocardium, we performed three parts of experiments in vivo and in vitro. I: Rats were injected with 5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR, 0.8 mg.kg(-1)) for 2 h. II: Rats received different dose (0.5, 2.5 or 5 g.kg(-1).d(-1)) of ethanol for 22-week. III: Primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were isolated and treated with or without 100 mM ethanol or 1 mM AICAR for 4 h. The cardiac protein and mRNA expression of AMPKalpha subunits, MEF2 and GLUT4 were observed by western-blotting and RT-PCR, respectively. Serum TNFalpha levels were assessed by ELISA. The results showed chronic ethanol exposure induced insulin resistance. Ethanol decreased the mRNA levels of AMPKalpha1 and alpha2, the protein levels of total- and phospho-AMPKalpha in cardiomyocytes. Similarly, ethanol showed inhibitory effects on both the mRNA and protein levels of MEF2A and 2D, and GLUT4 in a dose-response-like fashion. Correlation analysis implied an association between phospho-AMPKalpha and MEF2A or MEF2D, and between the levels of MEF2 protein and GLUT4 transcription. In addition, ethanol elevated serum TNFalpha level. Taken together, chronic ethanol exposure decreases the expression of AMPKalpha and MEF2, and is associated with GLUT4 decline in rat myocardium.
AMP-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; Aminoimidazole Carboxamide/analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Animals ; Enzyme Activation/drug effects ; Ethanol/*administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Feeding Behavior/*drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects ; Glucose Transporter Type 4/genetics/*metabolism ; Insulin/pharmacology ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Myocardium/*enzymology ; Myogenic Regulatory Factors/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Isoforms/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Ribonucleotides/pharmacology ; Time Factors ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/blood

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Fluorouracil ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between the alteration in GGT mRNA expression and the development of HCC.

METHODSThree GGT mRNA types (F, H, and P) in normal liver tissues, diseased liver tissues without HCC, cancerous and noncancerous tissues from livers with HCC, and noncancerous tissues from livers with metastatic tumor were tested by RT-PCR.

RESULTSIn normal livers, the main type of GGT mRNA was type F. In liver diseases but not HCC, the distribution of the type GGT mRNA was nearly the same as in normal livers. The prevalence of type H was significantly higher in both cancerous and noncancerous tissues of livers with HCC than in livers without HCC (P<0.05). The prevalence of type F in cancerous tissues was significantly lower than that in livers without HCC (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe GGT mRNA expression in the human liver will shift from type F to type H during the development of HCC. The fragment analysis of GGT genes may be a sensitive assay to detect hepatic cell canceration.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Humans ; Liver ; enzymology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Diseases ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; genetics

Purpose:To evaluate the feasibility, advantages and disadvantages of chemosensitivity test of human gastric cancer using MTT assay with short term culture tumor cells contaminated by nonmalignant cells compared with purifiedly primary culture tumor cells.Methods:Fifty nine fresh samples from patients with gastric cancer were obtained from operating rooms. Chemosensitivity results were provided by the MTT assay with short term culture cells. The primary culture cells were purified by means of a series of methods such as repeated cell attachment, differential trypsinization and natural purification which removed fibroblasts and other nonmalignant cells. The same MTT assay was conducted using purified cells. Chemosensitivity results between short term method and purification method were compared for seven antitumor drugs. Results:The success rate of short term method using the MTT assay for chemosensitivity testing was 81 4% (48 of 59 patients),and for the purification method it was 50.8(30 of 59 patients). The average was 20.2?9.5 days when primary cells were cultured into purified cancer cells. The optical density ( A ) value correlated directly with the the number of tumor cells with the two methods( P