OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy of the combined treatment with acupuncture and governor vessel moxibustion on ankylosing spondylitis (AS) at early-middle stage and investigate the effect on bone marrow edema of sacroiliac joint. METHODS: Seventy patients of AS at early-middle stage were randomized into an observation group (35 cases) and a control group (35 cases, 1 case dropped off ). In the control group, the recombinant human tumor necrosis factor receptor-antibody of type Ⅱ fusion protein for injection was injected subcutaneously, 25 mg each time, once on every Monday and Friday, consecutively for 3 weeks. In the observation group, on the base of the intervention as the control group, acupuncture combined with governor vessel moxibustion were provided. Acupuncture was applied to Dazhui (GV 14), Changqiang (GV 1), Zhibian (BL 54), Baihui (GV 20), etc.; the thermal needling technique was adopted at Dazhui (GV 4) and Changqiang (GV 1) for promoting the circulation of the governor vessel, and the ginger-isolated moxibustion on the governor vessel was combined. Such intervention measure was provided once daily. One treatment session contained 7 treatments and 3 sessions were required. Before and after treatment, the scores of Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC), Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI) and Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI) and Bath ankylosing spondylitis patient global score (BAS-G) were observed in the two groups separately. The efficacy and adverse effects were assessed in the two groups after treatment. RESULTS: The scores of SPARCC, BASDAI, BASFI and BAS-G were all reduced after treatment compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05), and those in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 97.1% (34/35) in the observation group, higher than 82.4% (28/34) in the control group (P<0.05). There were 4 cases of gastrointestinal reactions and 1 case of skin rashes in the control group; and 3 cases of local skin redness and pruritus after governor vessel moxibustion, no any drug adverse effect was found in the observation group. CONCLUSION Based on the western medicine treatment, the combined therapy of acupuncture and governor vessel moxibustion may relieve bone marrow edema of sacroiliac joint in patients with AS at early-middle stage, control the progression of disease and improve the daily life activity. This therapy is relatively safe and effective.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Bone Marrow ; Edema/therapy* ; Humans ; Moxibustion/methods* ; Sacroiliac Joint ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing/therapy*

The aim of this study was to explore the regulatory mechanism of Type Ⅲ domain-containing protein5 (FNDC5) on adipogenic differentiation in C3H10T1/2 cells. qRT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of FNDC5 during adipogenic differentiation of C3H10T1/2 cells. The lentivirus-coated overexpression and interference vector of FNDC5 were constructed and transfected into C3H10T1/2 cells. qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of the key genes of adipogenic differentiation. Oil red O staining was used to detect the formation of lipid droplets; Western blot was used to detect the content of ERK1/2 and ERK1/2 phosphorylated protein (P-ERK1/2). After 8 days of adipogenic differentiation of C3H10T1/2 cells, the expression of Fndc5 increased significantly. After overexpression of FNDC5 in C3H10T1/2 cells, the expression of key genes for adipogenic differentiation, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-酌 (PPAR酌), CCAAT enhancer binding protein beta (C/EBP茁), fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) and CCAAT enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPα), all decreased significantly. The content of lipid droplets and P-ERK1/2 also decreased significantly. On the contrary, after interference of FNDC5 in C3H10T1/2 cells, the expression of key genes for adipogenic differentiation, including PPARγ, C/EBP茁, FABP4 and C/EBPα were significantly increased. Meanwhile, the content of lipid droplets and P-ERK1/2 also increased significantly. This study found that FNDC5 can inhibit the adipogenic differentiation of C3H10T1/2 cells by inhibiting the phosphorylation level of ERK1/2, which can provide reference data for the mechanism of FNDC5 in regulating fat deposition.

The objective of this study was to investigate the expression profile of the myozenin2 (MYOZ2) gene and elucidate its effect on adipogenic differentiation of C3H10T1 / 2 cells and its possible mechanism∙ The longissimus dorsi‚ subcutaneous fat and liver tissue was collected from 180-day-old Mashen pigs‚ 60-day-old ICR mice‚ 35-day-old Ross broiler and 12-month-old Small tail han sheep‚ and the expression profile of the MYOZ2 gene mRNA was detected∙ The results showed that the MYOZ2 gene has similar patterns of tissue expression in examined species‚ with the highest expression level in longissimus dorsi‚ and a small amount of expression in the subcutaneous fat and liver tissue∙ After the MYOZ2 gene was silenced in C3H10T1 / 2 cells‚ qRT-PCR results showed that the expression levels of key adipogenic genes PPARγ and FABP4 were significantly down-regulated compared with the control group (P < 0∙ 01) ; Western Blotting results showed that the PPARγ protein content was significantly decreased (P < 0∙ 05) ; Oil red O staining showed that the number of lipid droplets and the content of triglyceride were significantly decreased after silencing MYOZ2 (P < 0∙ 05) ∙ The expression of fatty acid metabolism related genes SCD‚ FASN‚ SREBP1‚ NR1H3‚ DGAT1‚ PNPLA2‚ HSL‚ CES1‚ CPT1 after MYOZ2 silencing were detected by qRT-PCR∙ The results showed that SCD‚ FASN‚ SREBP1‚ PNPLA2 and HSL were significantly down-regulated (P < 0∙ 01) ‚ NR1H3 was significantly reduced (P < 0∙ 05) ‚ DGAT1 expression was down-regulated but the difference was not significant‚ CES1 and CPT1 were significantly up-regulated (P < 0∙ 05) ∙ The STRING database was used to construct a MYOZ2-related protein interaction network map‚ and it was found that MYOZ2 may affect the adipogenic differentiation through the interaction of titin-cap (TCAP) and PPARγ∙ After silencing TCAP‚ qRT-PCR results showed that compared with the control group‚ the expression of key adipogenic genes PPARγ and FABP4 were significantly up-regulated (P < 0∙ 01) ; Western Blotting results showed that PPARγ protein was significantly increased (P< 0∙ 05) ; Oil red O staining showed that the number of lipid droplets and the content of triglyceride were significantly increased after TCAP silencing (P < 0∙ 05) ∙ qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of TCAP after silencing MYOZ2‚ and the results showed that the expression of TCAP was significantly increased (P<0∙ 01) ∙ In summary‚ MYOZ2 was highly expressed in longissimus dorsi and lower expressed in subcutaneous fat and liver tissues∙ In addition‚ MYOZ2 may regulate the expression of key adipogenic genes PPARγ and FABP4 through the interaction of MYOZ2-TCAP -PPARγ‚ and to further regulate the expression of fatty acid metabolism related genes SCD‚ FASN‚ SREBP1‚ NR1H3‚ DGAT1‚ PNPLA2‚ HSL‚ CES1 and CPT1‚ thus playing an important role in the process of adipogenic differentiation∙

The specific PCR primer was designed base on ITS2 sequence in GenBank, and we developed a SYBRGreen real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR system for identification of Crocus sativus and Carthamus tinctorius source. Compared with Chinese herbal medicine DNA barcode technique, this method showed characteristics of shorter time, higher specificity and sensitivity. Using this method to detect 15 samples, 4 were C. sativus, 8 were C. tinctorius, and the other 3 samples were none of them. The result was in accordance with Chinese herbal medicine DNA barcode. This study lays the foundation for identification of related Chinese medical materials.
Carthamus tinctorius ; Crocus ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

Background: Disease-modifying therapy is the standard treatment for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in remission. The primary objective of the current analysis was to assess the efficacy and safety of two teriflunomide doses (7 mg and 14 mg) in the subgroup of Chinese patients with relapsing MS included in the TOWER study. Methods: TOWER was a multicenter, multinational, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group (three groups), placebo-controlled study. This subgroup analysis includes 148 Chinese patients randomized to receive either teriflunomide 7 mg (n = 51), teriflunomide 14 mg (n = 43), or placebo (n = 54). Results: Of the 148 patients in the intent-to-treat population, adjusted annualized relapse rates were 0.63 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.44, 0.92) in the placebo group, 0.48 (95% CI: 0.33, 0.70) in the teriflunomide 7 mg group, and 0.18 (95% CI: 0.09, 0.36) in the teriflunomide 14 mg group; this corresponded to a significant relative risk reduction in the teriflunomide 14 mg group versus placebo (-71.2%, P = 0.0012). Teriflunomide 14 mg also tended to reduce 12-week confirmed disability worsening by 68.1% compared with placebo (hazard ratio: 0.319, P = 0.1194). There were no differences across all treatment groups in the proportion of patients with treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs; 72.2% in the placebo group, 74.5% in the teriflunomide 7 mg group, and 69.8% in the teriflunomide 14 mg group); corresponding proportions for serious adverse events were 11.1%, 3.9%, and 11.6%, respectively. The most frequently reported TEAEs with teriflunomide versus placebo were neutropenia, increased alanine aminotransferase, and hair thinning. Conclusions: Teriflunomide was as effective and safe in the Chinese subpopulation as it was in the overall population of patients in the TOWER trial. Teriflunomide has the potential to meet unmet medical needs for MS patients in China. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00751881; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00751881?term=NCT00751881&rank=1.
China ; Crotonates ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Multicenter Studies as Topic ; Multiple Sclerosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Toluidines ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common type of dementia, is becoming a major challenge for global health and social care. However, the current understanding of AD pathogenesis is limited, and no early diagnosis and disease-modifying therapy are currently available. During the past year, significant progress has been made in clinical research on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of AD. In this review, we summarize the latest achievements, including diagnostic biomarkers, polygenic hazard score, amyloid and tau PET imaging, clinical trials targeting amyloid-beta (Aβ), tau, and neurotransmitters, early intervention, and primary prevention and systemic intervention approaches, and provide novel perspectives for further efforts to understand and cure the disease.
Alzheimer Disease ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Animals ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Biomedical Research ; methods ; Disease Progression ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and efficacy of transanal specimen extraction in laparoscopic colorectal resection.

METHODSFrom January 2009 to December 2010, transanal specimen extraction technique was performed in 12 patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal resection. The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSThere were 8 males and 4 females. The age ranged from 41 to 67 (mean, 58) years old. The mean operative time was (240±45) min, mean blood loss was (70±40) ml. There was no anastomotic leakage or stenosis. One patient with constipation suffered from intractable right lower abdominal pain and was managed with antispasmodic agents. The frequency of bowel movements was 3-7/d in the 5 patients with constipation and 1-2/d in patients with colorectal carcinoma at six months postoperatively. No local recurrence and metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer after follow-up of 1-20 months.

CONCLUSIONTransanal specimen extraction in laparoscopic colorectal resection is feasible, safe, and reliable.

Adult ; Aged ; Anal Canal ; surgery ; Colectomy ; methods ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To summarize the clinical efficacy of three dimensional conformal radiotherapy with concomitant intrathecal injection followed by systemic chemotherapy in the treatment of high-risk medulloblastoma (MB). Methods The clinical data of 20 patients with high-risk MB,admitted to our hospital from January 2005 to January 2008 and certified postoperatively by pathological examination, were retrospectively analyzed in our study; 15 of them were found tumors in the cerebrospinal fluid and MRI indicated 5 were with nodular cultivation in the spinal cord.Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy was done for all the patients with the same techniques:28-36 Gy to the whole cranialspinal axis followed by a boost of 18 Gy. All the patients received intrathecal injection with cytarabine and amethopterin concomitantly followed by systemic chemotherapy with nimustine and temozolomide. The treatment efficacy was concluded. Results The mean follow-up was 48.5 months.Three months after treatment,the complete remission (CR) was achieved in 18 (90.0％),and partial remission in 1 (5.0％),and stabilization in 1 (5.0％).Four patients were failed of treatment and died; 1 had recurrence in the region,and 3 had spinal cord planting progress.The median survival time was 53 months; and 3-y overall survival and 3-y disease-free survival were 80.0％ and 75.5％,respectively.The major side effects occurred in hematological system and digestive system.No grade Ⅳ bone marrow suppression was noted. Conclusion Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy and intrathecal injection followed by systemic chemotherapy for high-risk MB is safe and feasible,enjoying good prognosis.

Objective To study the related factors of central lymph node(CLN) metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma ( PTC ),the indications and the extent of central neck dissection ( CND ).Methods A total of 153 cases treated between Jan.2009 and Dec.2010 was analysed retrospectively.Of the cases 28 males and 125 cases females,with a mean age of (44 ± 14) years.T1,T2,and T3 diseases accounted for 51,10 and 81 cases,respectively; Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ diseases for 88,3,26 and 36 cases,respectively.Multifocal tumors were found in 63 cases.The related clinicopathologic factors were analyzed,including sex,age,tumor size,extrathyroidal extension,and multifocal tumor.Results All the cases had total/near total thyroidectomy and CND,of them 64 cases had unilateral neck dissection and 18 cases had bilateral neck dissection.CLN metastases existed in 68.6％ ( 105/153 ) cases,37.2％ (57/153) for unilateral and 31.4％ (48/153) for bilateral respectively.The rates of CLN metastasis were 86.6％ (71/82)in cN1 cases and 47.9％ (34/71) cN0 cases,respectively,and the rates of bilateral CLN metastases were 45.1％(37/82) in cN1 cases and 15.5％ (11/71) in cN0 cases. Multivariate analysis showed that extrathyroidal extension( P =0.002,OR =3.502) was an independent risk factor for CLN metastasis and that lateral neck lymph node metastasis( P =0.028,OR =3.080),surrounding tissue invasion ( P =0.014,OR =3.113 ),and maximum tumor diameter greater than 1 cm ( P =0.012,OR =3.732) were independent risk factors for bilateral CLN metastases.Conclusions It is indicated that ipsilateral CND should be obligatory for PTC. Intraoperative frozen section examination should be routine.Bilateral CND should be conducted when ipsilateral CLN metastases accompanied by one of following issues such as more invasive tumor(surrounding tissue invasion,T3 or T4 disease),maximum tumor diameter greater than 1 cm,and lateral neck lymph node metastasis.

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of preconditioning acupuncture (PA) on the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.

METHODSEighty patients suffered from primary dysmenorrhea were randomly assigned on the ratio of 1:1:2 into three groups, 20 in Group A, 20 in Group B, and 40 in Group C. Group A and B were treated with PA and immediate acupuncture (IA), respectively, while Group C received no acupuncture treatment and be taken as a blank control. The treatment was lasted for three menstrual cycles. The therapeutic effects were observed and compared.

RESULTSComparing the scores of the symptoms in the different groups, the therapeutic effect in different groups showed that the symptom scores in Group A at the second and third cycle of treatment, as well as at the first and third cycle of follow-up, were significantly lower than the scores in Group B, respectively (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the duration of symptoms was shorter in Group A than in Group B at the third cycle of treatment and the first and third cycle of follow-up (P<0.05). Symptom scores in Groups A and B in the treatment and follow-up periods were all lowered as compared to those before treatment (P<0.01), and the scores were also lower than those in Group C measured at corresponding times (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of PA, either the short-term or the long-term effect, was superior to that of IA in treating dysmenorrhea.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Age of Onset ; Dysmenorrhea ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; pathology ; therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Research Design ; Severity of Illness Index ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult