Fire-needle acupuncture for upper limb spastic paralysis after stroke: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial / 中西医结合学报

BACKGROUND@#Fire-needle acupuncture, an important kind of acupuncture therapy, has been clinically used to treat upper limb spastic paralysis (ULSP) after stroke. Clinical experience has indicated that fire-needle acupuncture treatment takes less time, requires fewer visits, and has more rapid results and fewer side effects compared to chemical medicine alternatives. This study will evaluate the effects of fire-needle acupuncture for ULSP in the context of standardized clinical research and provide high-quality data to inform clinical procedures and future study design.@*METHODS/DESIGN@#A randomized controlled trial will be carried out to evaluate the effects of fire-needle acupuncture therapy in patients with ULSP from stroke. ULSP patients (n = 120) will be recruited at Changhai Hospital in Shanghai, China. Patients will be randomly divided into three groups, including fire-needle acupuncture group (FAG), filiform-needle acupuncture group (FFAG) and rehabilitation treatment group (RTG). During the 3-week treatment, the FAG will be treated every two days, while FFAG and RTG will be treated 5 d in a row and then rest for 2 d. The Simplified Fugl-Meyer Motor Function Scale and Modified Ashworth Scale will be used as the primary outcome measures. Statistical analysis will be conducted by an independent statistician.@*DISCUSSION@#Through this study, the utility of fire-needle acupuncture in treating ULSP after stroke will be tested, and some specific claims of fire-needle acupuncture therapy will be evaluated, such as relieving spasm and muscular tension, improving activities of daily living, rapidity of response and less frequency of treatment compared with other treatments.@*TRIAL REGISTRATION@#Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (identifier: ChiCTR-IOR-17013875; registration date: 28 December 2016).

Research Methods for Structural Analysis of Lactic Acid Bacteria Induced Exopolysaccharides / 分析化学

Exopolysaccharides (EPSs), produced by lactic acid bacteria (LAB), have been used primarily to improve the quality and taste of food, also possess a variety of unique biological functions, such as immunoregulation and anti-tumor activities. The diversity of molecular structural characteristics of LAB-generated EPSs represents one of the main factors responsible for this plethora of functions. Accordingly, the structural analysis of the EPSs produced by LAB is both a prerequisite and basis for examining its functional and structure-activity relationships. In this article, we summarized the current progress of key methodologies involved in the structural analysis of LAB-generated EPSs, including their isolation, purification, primary structure and advances in structural research. A comprehensive discussion regarding the application of chemical analysis, instrument analysis and computer aided technology in the structure analysis of LAB-generated EPSs was provided. Further, the future development of the research on the structure of LAB-generated EPSs was presented.

Efficacy of flupentixol and melitracen in optimizing conventional treatment for postherpetic neural-gia / 中华麻醉学杂志

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of flupentixol and melitracen in optimizing conven-tional treatment for postherpetic neuralgia. Methods Seventy patients of both sexes with thoracolumbar postherpetic neuralgia, were divided into 2 groups ( n＝35 each) according to the registration order: pa-tients with odd number were included in control group ( group C) and patients with even number were in-cluded in flupentixol-melitracen group (group D). Patients in group C received conventional treatment: an-ti-epileptic drugs, analgesia with opioids, neurotrophy, paravertebral nerve block and physical therapy. Flupentixol-melitracen 10. 5 mg was taken orally based on the conventional treatment in group D. The time for treatment was recorded. The severity of pain was assessed by using the numeric rating scale, and anxiety and depression were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale before treatment and on 3rd and 7th days after treatment. The development of flupenthixol and melitracen-related adverse reactions was recorded during treatment in group D. Results Compared with group C, the numeric rating scale and Hos-pital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores were significantly decreased on 3rd and 7th days after treatment, and the time for treatment was shortened in group D (P＜0. 05). No flupenthixol-and melitracen-related ad-verse reactions were found in group D. Conclusion Flupentixol-melitracen can optimize the conventional therapeutic effect for postherpetic neuralgia.

Interrelation between the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus and the bone variation of osteoporosis in rats / 生理学报

This study investigated the interrelation between the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC) and the bone variation of osteoporosis in rats. Four animal models of ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis (OVX), glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP), retinoic acid-induced osteoporosis (RAOP) and senile osteoporosis (SOP) were used to study the influence of osteoporosis on ARC. Ovariectomized rats were further treated with thymopeptide, ciclosporin and exercise respectively to detect the changes of ARC nerve cells number. The results showed that: (1) The OVX, GIOP, RAOP and SOP models were successfully established, showing osteoporosis as well as decrease of the number of ARC nerve cells; (2) Thymopeptide and exercise respectively alleviated the bone loss induced by ovariectomy, accompanied by increase of the number of ARC nerve cells, while ciclosporin further increased the bone loss of ovariectomized rats, accompanied by further decrease of the number of ARC nerve cells. These results suggest that there is a close interrelationship between ARC and osteoporosis in rat. There is a hypothalamus-pituitary-bone (HPB) axis, and HPB axis regulates the mechanism of osteoporosis in rats.

Effect of butyl benzyl phthalate on life table-demography of two successive generations of cladoceran Moina macrocopa Straus.

In this study, the acute toxicity of butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) to freshwater cladoceran Moina macrocopa was tested, and its chronic effects on survival and reproduction of two successive generations of the cladoceran were studied using life-table demographic method. The results showed that the 48-hr LC50 of BBP for M. macrocopa was 3.69 mg l-1. Compared to the blank controls, BBP at 125, 500, 1000 and 2000 4g l-1 significantly shortened the life expectancy at birth, BBP at 125-2000 4g l-1 decreased the net reproductive rate, and BBP at 500 and 1000 4g l-1 shortened the generation time but increased the intrinsic rate of population increase of the parental M. macrocopa. BBP at 62.5, 125, 500, 1000 and 2000 4g l-1 increased the intrinsic rate of population increase of the F1 generation. A significant dose-effect relationship existed between BBP concentration and life expectancy at birth, net reproductive rate as well as intrinsic rate of population increase of the parental M. macrocopa. The parental M. macrocopa were more sensitive in survival, development and reproduction to BBP than the F1 generation, but the reverse was also true in the population growth. Extending chronic toxicity tests to the second generation of M. macrocopa increased the cost-effectiveness of the assays.

Relationship between the levels of sex hormones and loss of bone mass in aging male rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between the level of sex hormones and the loss of bone mass in aging male rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into five age groups and sacrificed at 35, 70, 160, 700 and 800 postnatal days (PD) , followed by measurement of the % Tb x Ar, Tb x Th, Tb x N and Tb x SP by bone histomorphometry and detection of the levels of serum testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) by radioimmunoassay. The relationship between the changes of the T and E2 levels and those of bone histomorphometry was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>T and E2 levels were closely correlated with the bone mass in the aging male rats. The changes in T and E2 levels were simultaneous with those in the bone mass with the growth of the rats. T, E2, % Tb x Ar and Tb x N reached the peak in the 70 and 160 PD groups, and markedly decreased in the 700 PD group except Tb x Th and Tb x SP. The T levels in the 35, 70, 160, 700 and 800 PD groups were (118.53 +/- 18.35) ng/dl, (345.49 +/- 54.63) ng/dl, (368.83 +/- 60.03) ng/dl, (61.15 +/- 21.12) ng/dl and (60.35 +/- 19. 27) ng/dl, changing simultaneously with the E2 levels, which were (10.35 +/- 1.82) pg/ml, (16.92 +/- 3.13) pg/ml, (17.20 +/- 2.51) pg/ml, (5.87 +/- 2.34) pg/ml and (5.53 +/- 2.48) pg/ml, respectively. The metrological parameters of the bone structure in the five groups were as follows, Tb x Ar: (19.52 +/- 2.23)%, (26.28 +/- 2.18) %, (28.37 +/- 1.21) %, (15.62 +/- 1.68) % and (14.21 +/- 0.89) %; Tb x Th: (35.45 +/- 1.63) microm, (50.13 +/- 3.58) microm, (60.23 +/- 8.25) microm, (75.62 +/- 9.72) microm and (78.78 +/- 11.21) microm; Tb x N: (5.98 +/- 1.21) n/mm, (8.07 +/- 0.86) n/mm, (8.30 +/- 1.22) n/mm, (2.63 +/- 1.35) n/mm and (2.48 +/- 1.62) n/mm; Tb x SP: (126.34 +/- 18.15) microm, (136.26 +/- 15.27) microm, (261.08 +/- 76.43) microm, (323.12 +/- 78.12) microm and (330.23 +/- 50.20) microm.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Changes in the levels of sex hormones are closely correlated with those of bone mass. Both testosterone and estradiol are essential for bone development and bone mass maintenance.</p>

Prognostic factors of 305 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy / 癌症

<p><b>BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE</b>Radiotherapy is effective in treating nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). This study evaluated the treatment efficacy, toxicity, and prognostic factors of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in the treatment NPC.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Between September 2003 and September 2006, 305 patients with NPC were treated with IMRT in Fujian Provincial Cancer Hospital. IMRT was delivered as follows: gross tumor volume (GTV) received 66.0-69.8 Gy in 30-33 fractions, high-risk clinical target volume (CTV-1) received 60.0-66.65 Gy, low-risk clinical target volume (CTV-2) and clinical target volume of cervical lymph node regions (CTV-N) received 54.0-55.8 Gy. Patients with stages III or IV disease also received cisplatin-based chemotherapy. All patients were assessed for local-regional control, survival, and toxicity.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>With a median follow-up of 35 months (range, 5-61 months), there were 16, 8, and 39 patients who had developed local, regional, and distant recurrence, respectively. The 3-year rates of local control, regional control, metastasis-free survival, disease-free survival, and overall survival were 94.3%, 97.7%, 86.1%, 80.3%, and 89.1%, respectively. Multivariate analyses revealed that T-classification had no predictive value for local control and survival, whereas N-classification was a significant prognostic factor for overall survival (P < 0.001), metastasis-free survival (P < 0.001), and disease-free survival (P = 0.003). For stages III-IV disease, concurrent and adjuvant chemotherapy did not influence prognosis. The most severe acute toxicities included Grade III mucositis in 14 patients (4.6%), Grade III skin desquamation in 90 (29.5%), and Grades III-IV leucocytopenia in 20 (6.5%). There were 7% patients with Grade II xerostomia after 2 years of IMRT, no Grades 3 or 4 xerostomia was detected.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>IMRT provided favorable locoregional control and survival rates for patients with NPC, even in those with locally advanced disease. The acute and late toxicities were acceptable. N-classification was the main factor of prognosis. Further study is needed on chemotherapy for patients with NPC.</p>

Mechanism of the influence of CCE3 on bone mineral element metabolism in ovariectomized rats / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the influence of CCE3 on bone mineral element metabolism and relative hormone in ovariectomized rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>24 female SD rats were divided randomly into 4 groups (n = 6): (1) Normal control; (2) sham ovariectomy; (3) ovariectomy(OVX); (4) OVX + CCE3.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Ca, Mg, S, Co, Mn, Zn reduced obviously and P increased in the bone of the OVX rats. (2) E2, P, TSH, T4, CT, cortisol, GH reduced obviously and IL-6, FSH, LH increased obviously in serum of the OVX rats. (3) CCE3 corrected the changes of Ca, Mg, S, Co, Mn, Zn and P in bone as well as the changes of E2, P, TSH, T4, CT, cortisol, GH and IL-6, FSH, LH in serum of the OVX rats.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Changes of relative hormone and IL-6 induced by CCE3 are the important mechanism of the influence of CCE3 on bone mineral element metabolism in ovariectomized rats.</p>

Antitumour effect of total saponins of Rubus parvifolius on malignant melanoma / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the antitumor effect of total saponins of R. parvifolius on malignant melanoma.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The human malignant melanoma A375 cells were regularlly subcultured in vitro, and were divided into five groups contained positive control group (CTX), high concentration (0.01 mg x mL(-1)) and middle concentration (0.001 mg x mL(-1)) and low concentration (0.000 1 mg x mL(-1)) total saponins of R. parvifolius groups and negative control group. By using MTT colorimetric method, the cell viability was measured. B16 melanoma cells were transplanted to mice, which were divided into positive control group, high dose (100 mg x kg(-1)) and middle dose (50 mg x kg(-1)) and low dose (25 mg x kg(-1)) total saponins of R. parvifolius groups and negative control group. The inhibition effect of the tumor in vivo, mean survival time and rate of life-elongation of the mice were observed. TUNEL method was used to detect the apoptosis of B16 malignant melanoma.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Antitumor assay in vitro showed that the absorbency increased in the concentration of 0.01, 0.001 mg x mL(-1) with statistical significance (P < 0.05 vs negative control). Antitumor assay in vivo showed that the tumor inhibitory rate of high dose (100 mg x kg(-1)) and middle dose (50 mg x kg(-1)) of total saponins of R. parvifolius were 37.02% and 30.61%, respectively. Loaded tumor mouse survival duration could be prolonged. The apoptosis indexes of B16 tumor cells in three treatment groups were 32.5%, 20.5% and 5.5%, respective and there was statistical significance (P < 0.05 vs negative control).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The total saponins of R. parvifolius has remarkable inhibition of proliferation of malignant melanoma cells in vivo and in vitro and exerts antitumor activities through promoting tumor cell apoptosis.</p>

Effects of high temperature stress on root vitality and leaf biochemical indexes in different populations of Pinellia ternate / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of high temperature stress on the root vitality and leaf biochemical indexes in populations of Pinellia ternate.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The leaf activity of SOD, contents of MDA and free praline and root vitality were determined after a treatment of high temperature stress (35 degrees C/25 degrees C) was given to different populations of P. ternate.</p><p><b>RESULT AND CONCLUSION</b>By stress time increasing, the leaf SOD and free praline rose firstly and then dropped, the content of MDA increased while the root ability decreased in all populations. And the response of populations of P. ternate to high temperature was significantly different.</p>

Effect of exercise on bone mineral element metabolism and relative hormones in ovariectomized rats / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the effect of exercise on bone mineral element metabolism and relative hormones in ovariectomized rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>24 female SD rats were divided randomly into 4 groups: (1) normal control, (2) sham ovariectomy, (3) ovariectomy (OVX), (4) OVX + exercise.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Ca, Mg, S,Co,Mn, Zn reduced obviously and P increases in bone of the OVX rats. (2) E2, P, TSH, T4, CT, Cortisol, GH reduced obviously and IL-6, FSH, LH increased obviously in serum of the OVX rats. (3) Exercised opposed the changes of Ca, Mg, S, Co, Mn, Zn and P in bone as well as the changes of E2, P, TSH, T4, CT, Cortisol, GH and IL-6, FSH, LH in serum of the OVX rats.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Exercise may correct the changes of bone mineral element and the relative hormones in ovariectomized rats.</p>

Direct sequencing and analysis of exons of Wilson' disease gene with the most mutations: a study in Hunan Han patients / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect hot point mutations of ATP7B gene in Hunan Han patients with Wilson' disease (WD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The genomic DNA of 22 WD patients was extracted and exons 5, 8, 12, 13 were amplified by PCR. Screening for the mutations was done by direct sequencing and analysed by BLAST.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Fifteen of the 22 patients were found with mutations. Ten heterozygous Arg778Leu (2273G --> T) mutations were found in exon 8, all of them were accompanied with 2250C --> G polymorphism (Leu770Leu). Seven patients were found with 2855G --> A (Arg952Lys) polymorphism (4 heterozygous and 3 homozygous), 3 of them had Arg778Leu mutation in exon 8 and one with heterozygous mutation Gly943Asp (2828G --> A) in exon 12 simultaneously. Only one patient was found with heterozygous Pro992Leu (2975C --> T) mutation in exon 13. No mutations were found in exon 5.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Arg778Leu is the hot point mutation of ATP7B gene in Hunan Han patients with Wilson' disease while exon 5 is not.</p>

The effect of hypothalamic arcuate nucleus damaged by monosodium glutamate on skeleton in rat / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>To explore the effect of hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC) on the skeleton in rat.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Newborn SD rats were injected by 10% MSG 4 g/kg hypodermically once every other day until the 10th day postnatally, meanwhile, the newborn rats in control group were given by equal volume of normal saline. After surviving for 200 days, 6 female rats in each group were killed and their hypothalami were made into sections (4 microm) and stained with HE. The length, diameter, weight and volume of the femora, the tibia, the humeri, the radii and the ulnae were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The number of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus nervous cell were obviously less than those in control group as well as the length, diameter, weight, volume but the weight/volume (g/cm3) of the femora, the tibia, the humeri, the radii and the ulnae decreased significantly as compared with the control group. Levels of serum GH E2 in rats of MSG group were obviously lower than that in control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The hypothalamic arcuate nucleus participated in the regulation of the growth and development of skeleton in rats.</p>

Effect of lamivudine treatment on the quality of life of chronic hepatitis B / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To assess the quality of life of 3 types of chronic hepatitis B before and after the treatment of lamivudine, and to find an ideal way of medical treatment for chronic hepatitis B.@*METHODS@#One hundred and fifty patients with chronic hepatitis B were investigated in this study, among whom 5 1 were in mild state illness, 53 were middle-range and the other 46 were severe. The quality of life of the patients was assessed by the quality of life questionnaire (SF-36). The marks of questionnaire were compared before and after the use of lamivudine to assess its comprehensive curative effect on chronic hepatitis B.@*RESULTS@#The total score of SF-36, score of physical function, role-physical, mental health, social function, bodily pain and vitality were significant different before and after the treatment. Statistically significant differences were found among the 3 types of chronic hepatitis B before and after the treatment.@*CONCLUSION@#The quality of life of patients with chronic hepatitis B can be improved by using lamivudine. Assessment of quality of life may be taken as an important index in treating chronic hepatitis B.

Investigation on Sleep Snoring and Relative Morbidities in Children Aged 3 to 14 Years Old in Nanning City / 实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To investigate the occurrence of sleep snoring and relative morbidities in preschool and early school children aged 3 to 14 years old in Nanning city.Methods A population-based cross-sectional study of children aged form 3 to 14 years old was conducted,12 kindergartens,8 prime schools and 6 junior high schools were randomly selected and information was collected using a parent-completed questionnaire to ascertain snoring or habitual snoring and correlated symptom.The response rate was 90.6%,8 150 of 9 000 questionnaire were fully completed and 6 999 questionnaires were available.Results The prevalence of snoring in preschool and school children were reported in 32.7%,the incidence rate of sleep snoring in boys was 44.22%,which was higher than that in girls(28.58%)(P

Study on differential proteomic expression in human liver cells stimulated by trichloroethylene with proteomics / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the differential proteomic expression in human liver cells L-02 induced by different dosages of trichloroethylene (TCE).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Human liver cells L-02 were treated with different concentrations of TCE and the solvent control (dimethylsulfoxide). The total cellular proteins were separated using 2DE and visualized with silver staining after TCE treatment. The images were analyzed with Image Master 2D Platinum 5.0 analysis software. The differentially expressed protein spots were identified by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-TOF-MS).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Fifteen protein spots with significant difference were found, and went upward or downward or disappeared after the stimulation of TCE with different dosages, which indicated that TCE induced the change of the proteomic expression in the liver cells. The mass spectrum identification and the IPI human database retrieval were used for identifying 9 proteins related to the L-02 Liver cells induced by TCE.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The result provides an insight to TCE-related molecular mechanism and which might be useful for further study of the TCE-associated proteins and molecular markers.</p>

Two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry analysis on effects of trichloroethylene on protein of L-02 liver cells / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of trichloroethylene (TCE) on the protein in L-02 cells in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thiazolyl blue and Trypan blue tests were used to investigate the cytotoxicity of TCE to L-02 liver cell. The 2-D electrophoresis was used to analyse the expression of proteins in L-02 liver cells. The differentially expressed protein spots were identified by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-TOF-MS).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>When the concentration of TCE exceeded 30 micromol/L, there was distinct cytotoxicity to L-02 cell (P < 0.05). Selected 40 micromol/L to treat L-02 liver cells and analyze the differential proteome expression, the results showed that the expression level of 37 protein spots was up-regulated and 15 protein spots was down-regulated. And 15 proteins were identified by MALDI-TOF-TOF-MS.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TCE can change the proteome expression of L-02 liver cell. It should provide the fundamental information to identify proteins related to TCE in further study.</p>