The effect of overweight or obesity on the negative conversion time of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid / 中国热带医学

@#Abstract: Objective　To investigate the relationship between the body mass index (BMI) levels and the negative conversion time of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nucleic acid in adult coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and the asymptomatic persons. Methods　Asymptomatic infected patients and confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted to Chengdu Public Health Clinic Center from February 2021 to November 2021 were dynamically included. The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the objects were collected, and the SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid testing of the objects during their hospitalization was continuously monitored, and the negative nucleic acid conversion time was recorded. The t test or Wilcoxon rank sum test, χ2 test or Fisher's exact probability method examine were used to distribute characteristics of each group of variables and the connection between different variables, respectively. Then the variables showed differences in distribution (P<0.05) between different BMI groups were included in the multivariate Cox proportional risk regression model. Results　A total of 253 subjects ranged from 18 to 63 years old, with M(P25, P75) age of 37.0 (30.0, 47.0) years old, were included in this study. The male to female ratio was 4.16 to 1. The BMI was (23.97±3.33) kg/m2. 50.59% (128/253) of the objects were overweight or obese, and 78.13% (100/128) were overweight. The negative time of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid conversion of all subjects ranged from 1 to 71 days, with M(P25, P75) of 7.0 (2.0, 18.0) days (P<0.001). The negative time of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid conversion of the normal weight or the thin, and the overweight or obese were 5.00 (2.00, 19.00) and 8.00 (2.00, 17.75) days respectively. The results of multivariate Cox's proportional hazards regression model showed that the BMI levels may not be associated with the negative conversion time of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid (HR=1.090, 95%CI: 0.843-1.410, P=0.510). Conclusions　Adult asymptomatic persons and confirmed COVID-19 patients are mainly middle-aged and young males, and overweight or obesity is relatively common. Overweight or obesity cannot be considered as an independent factor influencing the negative conversion time of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid.

Progress in research on HIV cluster detection and response / 中华流行病学杂志

HIV cluster detection and response (CDR) is a critical strategy to end the HIV epidemic by offering information to identify prevention and care services gaps. The risk metrics for HIV clusters can be classified into three groups: growth-based metrics, characteristic-based metrics, and phylogeny-based metrics. When identifying HIV risk clusters, the public health response can reach people in the affected networks, including people with undiagnosed HIV, people with diagnosed HIV who might not be accessing HIV care or other services, and people without HIV who would benefit from prevention services. To provide references for HIV precise prevention in China, we summarized the risk metrics and the intervention measures for CDR.

Genetic polymorphisms of pharmacogenomic very important pharmacogenes variants in Chinese Lisu population / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE The specificity of drug therapy in individuals and races has promoted the development and improvement of pharmacogenomics and precision medicine. While there is a few cognition on the minorities in China, especially in Lisu nationality from the Yunnan province. Therefore, we performed the research to improve the role of pharmacogenomics in the Lisu population from the Yunnan province of China. METHODS 54 variants of very important pharmacogenes selected from the PharmGKB database were genotyped in 199 unrelated and healthy Lisu adults from the Yunnan province of China, and then, genotyping data wtihχ2 test were analyzed. RESULTS We compared our data with those of other 26 populations from the 1000 Genomes Project, and acquired that the Lisu ethnicity is similar with the CDX (Chinese Dai in Xishuangbanna, China) and CHS (Southern Han Chinese, China). Furthermore, rs776746 (CYP3A5), rs1805123 (KCNH2), rs4291 (ACE), rs1051298 (SLC19A1) and rs1065852 (CYP2D6) were deemed as the most varying loci. The MAF of"G"at rs1805123 (KCNH2) in the Lisu population was the largest with the value of 51.0％. CONCLUSION There are significant differences in single nucleotide polymorphism loci, supplementing the phar?macogenomic information of the Lisu population in Yunnan province, China, and can provide a theoretical basis for indi?vidualized medication in the future.

Effect of citalopram on miRNA-16/serotonin transporter pathway in peripheral blood of patients with depression / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

Objective • To discuss the effects of citalopram on miRNA-16/serotonin transporter (SERT) pathway in peripheral blood of the patients with depression. Methods • Forty-five patients with depression without medication (untreated group), 32 patients with depression treated with medicine(drug treated group) and 32 healthy people (control group) were enrolled in the study. Hamilton Depression Scale-17 items were used to evaluate the depressive symptoms. The expression level of plasma miRNA-16 was detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR, and the level of SERT protein in platelets was detected by Western blotting. Fourteen of the baseline patients who were treated with citalopram were followed up for 2 months. After the follow-up, the evaluation of HAMD-17, the detection of miRNA-16 and SERT protein were conducted. Results • There was no significant difference in the expression level of plasma miRNA-16 among the three groups (F=0.421, P=0.657). There was no significant difference of SERT protein expression in the platelets among the three groups (F=0.112, P=0.894). The follow-up study showed that the HAMD-17 score decreased after 2 months (Z=.3.187, P=0.001), the average expression level of plasma miRNA-16 increased (t=2.455, P=0.032), and the expression of SERT protein in the platelets did not change (t=.0.750, P=0.470) in 14 patients who were treated with citalopram. Conclusion • Citalopram, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, can down-regulate the expression of plasma miRNA-16 in patients with depression, and the decrease of the platelet serotonin is not caused by the decrease of SERT protein on platelet membrane, but may be related to the decrease of the SERT function.

Transcriptional profiling of uterine leiomyoma rats treated by a traditional herb pair, Curcumae rhizoma and Sparganii rhizoma

The aim of this study was to elucidate the concise effects of a traditional herb pair, Curcumae rhizoma-Sparganii rhizoma (CRSR), on uterine leiomyoma (UL) by analyzing transcriptional profiling. The UL rat model was made by intramuscular injection of progesterone and gavage administration of diethylstilbestrol. From 11 weeks of the establishment of the model, rats of the UL+CRSR group were gavaged daily with CRSR (6.67 g/kg). The serum concentrations of progesterone (P) and estradiol (E2) were determined by radioimmunoassay, the uterine index was measured by caliper measurement, and the pathological status was observed by hematoxylin and eosin stain. Gene expression profiling was checked by NimbleGen Rat Gene Expression Microarrays. The results indicated that the uterine mass of UL+CRSR rats was significantly shrunk and serum P and E2 levels significantly reduced compared to UL animals and nearly to the level of normal rats. Results of microarrays displayed the extensive inhibition of CRSR upon the expression of proliferation and deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM)-related genes, and significantly regulated a wide range of metabolism disorders. Furthermore, CRSR extensively regulated key pathways of the UL process, such as MAPK, PPAR, Notch, and TGF-β/Smad. Regulation of the crucial pathways for the UL process and ECM metabolism may be the underlying mechanisms of CRSR treatment. Further studies will provide clear clues for effectively treating UL with CRSR.

A study on the change of levels of blood lead and serum biochemical parameters of the school age children from different areas / 预防医学

Objective To learn the changes of blood lead levels and serum biochemical parameters of the school agechildren from different areas. Methods All research objects, the school age children, were from three different areasrespectively, including a mountainous area (L area), an island area (H area) where there is not history of Pb pollution,and an industry area (N area) in relation to Pb pollution. The morning urine and peripheral venous blood samples werecollected from the school age children. Pb in blood (PbB), δ-aminoaevulinic acid in urine (ALA), Ca2+, BUN, Cr inserum, and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), thyroxin (T4), free thyroxin (FT4) levels were detected. ResultsPbB levels [M was 36.0 ppb] of the school age children from N area were significantly higher than that of L area [22.0 ppb] andH area [23.8 ppb]. On the contrary, serum Ca2+ levels of the school age children from N area were significantly lower than thatof L area and H area. Serum T4 of N area was significantly lower than that of L area and H area. Serum FT4 of H area wassignificantly higher than that of L area and N area. And TSH of N area and H area were both obviously lower than that of L area.But all of these thyroxin indexes were in the range of normal values. Conclusion It should be widely concerned that thesignificant elevation of PbB levels may have a negative impact on school age children in the future.

The Analgesia of Oxymatrine Affecting Calcium Channel and GABA Release / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the analgesia of oxymatrine (OMT) affecting high voltage-dependent calcium channels (HVDCCs) and GABA release under neuropathic pain condition.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 66 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the sham-operation group, the model group, and the OMT group, 22 in each group. Neuropathic pain models were established by partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSNL). Hind paw plantar mechanical response threshold (MWT) was measured by up-and-down method with Von-Frey filament. mRNA expression of HVDCCs in brains and spinal cords was detected with Real-time PCR and concentration of GABA was determined using ELISA kit.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with day 0, the left hind paw MWTwas decreased on day 7, 10, and 14 in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the sham-operation group, the left hind paw MWT was significantly reduced in the model group on day 7 (P < 0.05). The MWT of PSNL ipsilateral hind paw was decreased on day 7 before OMT administration, when compared with day 0 (P < 0.05), and increased after OMT administration (P < 0.05). Compared with the sham-operation group, mRNA levels of Cav1.2, Cav1.3, Cav2.1, and Cav2.3 in brain tissues were increased and those of Cav2.2 were decreased significantly in the model group (P < 0.05). In spinal cord tissues, mRNA levels of Cav1.2 and Cav1.3 were increased, but those of Cav2.1, Cav2.2, and Cav2. 3 were decreased significantly in the model group, when compared with those of the sham-operation group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, mRNA levels of Cavl.2, Cavl.3, Cav2.1, and Cav2. 3 in brain tissues were decreased, and those of Cav2.2 were increased significantly in the OMT group (P < 0.05). In spinal cord tissues of the OMT group, mRNA levels of Cav1.3 decreased and those of Cav2.1, Cav2.2, and Cav2.3 increased significantly with statistical difference, when compared with those of the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the sham-operation group, GABA levels in brain tissues decreased in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, GABA levels in brain tissues increased in the OMT group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in GABA levels of spinal cord tissues among these groups (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>OMT had analgesic effect on neuropathic pain, which might be probably related to HVDDCs. Cav2.2 might directly affect GABA release.</p>

Study on analgesia of oxymatrine and its relation to calcium channels / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study whether the analgesis of oxymatrine (OMT) affects N-type voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 45 mice were randomly divided into the sham-operation group, the model group [established by partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSNL)] , and the OMT treatment group according to random digit table, 15 in each group. The dorsal root ganglions (DRG) were separated in PSNL pain model mice. Intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) was determined with Fluo-3 AM immunofluorescent probe in cultured DRG neurons. Different protein expression levels of N-type (Cav2. 2) and L-type ( Cav1. 3) among VGCCs from brain and DRG tissues were detected with Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the sham-operation group, [Ca2+]i, increased in cultured DRG neurons (P <0. 05) , protein expression levels of Cav2. 2 in the brain tissue increased (P <0. 05), protein expression levels of Cav2. 2 in DRG tissues decreased in the model group (P <0. 01). Compared with the model group, [Ca2+]i, decreased in cultured DRG neurons (P < 0. 05), protein expression levels of Cav2. 2 in the brain tissue decreased (P <0. 01), protein expression levels of Cav2. 2 in DRG tissues increased in the OMT treatment group (P <0. 01). There was no statistical difference in Cav1. 3 expressions in cultured DRG neurons and the brain (P >0. 05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Analgesic effect of OMT might be related to Cav2. 2 channel mediated calcium ion flux.</p>

n-Butanol extract of Rhynchosia volubilis Lour: A potent spermicidal agent In Vitro / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Rhynchosia volubilis Lour has been a major drug in a folk prescription for contraception in China, whereas its mechanism remains unknown. Its antifertility effects on male mice and antimicrobial activities on sexually transmitted infection (STI) pathogens were previously reported. This study was undertaken to develop the n-Butanol extract of Rhynchosia volubilis Lour (BERVL) as a spermicidal agent with STI prevention. The spermicidal activities of BERVL with different doses were assessed using selected high-motile sperms of normal human semen samples, and their inhibitory effects on Lactobacillus acidophilus were determined. The mechanism of the spermicidal activity was explored by aqueous Eosin Y and Hoechst 33342/PI staining. The results showed spermicidal activities and inhibitory effects of BERVL on Lactobacillus acidophilus were dose-dependent. Dose of 90 mg/mL BERVL terminated all progressive sperm motility within 2 min, and had slight inhibitory effect on Lactobacillus acidophilus, suggesting it was an effective and safe dose for contraception use. About 80% sperms exposed to BERVL displayed changes consistent with high permeability of head membrane. It is concluded that BERVL as spermicide has advantages over N-9 with strong ability to instantaneously kill human sperm and possesses light inhibitory effect on Lactobacillus acidophilus.

n-Butanol extract of Rhynchosia volubilis Lour: a potent spermicidal agent In Vitro / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Rhynchosia volubilis Lour has been a major drug in a folk prescription for contraception in China, whereas its mechanism remains unknown. Its antifertility effects on male mice and antimicrobial activities on sexually transmitted infection (STI) pathogens were previously reported. This study was undertaken to develop the n-Butanol extract of Rhynchosia volubilis Lour (BERVL) as a spermicidal agent with STI prevention. The spermicidal activities of BERVL with different doses were assessed using selected high-motile sperms of normal human semen samples, and their inhibitory effects on Lactobacillus acidophilus were determined. The mechanism of the spermicidal activity was explored by aqueous Eosin Y and Hoechst 33342/PI staining. The results showed spermicidal activities and inhibitory effects of BERVL on Lactobacillus acidophilus were dose-dependent. Dose of 90 mg/mL BERVL terminated all progressive sperm motility within 2 min, and had slight inhibitory effect on Lactobacillus acidophilus, suggesting it was an effective and safe dose for contraception use. About 80% sperms exposed to BERVL displayed changes consistent with high permeability of head membrane. It is concluded that BERVL as spermicide has advantages over N-9 with strong ability to instantaneously kill human sperm and possesses light inhibitory effect on Lactobacillus acidophilus.

Clinical characteristics and therapy of cerebral arteriovenous malformations in elderly patients / 中华神经医学杂志

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics and treatment of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in elderly patients to improve their prognoses.Methods Such clinical data as clinical manifestations,angioarchitecture features,location and therapy of 28 elderly patients (≥60 years old) with AVMs,admitted to our hospital from January 2000 to December 2011,were retrospectively analyzed.Results The elderly patients had 5.4％ (28/511) morbidity of AVMs,with mean age of (62.25±3.46) years; the male patients were slightly more than the female patients.The clinical presentations included hemorrhage in 20 patients,seizure in 4,headache in 2,facial tic in 1 and tinnitus in 1.Supratentorial and infratentorial lesions were noted in 22 and 6,respectively.The maximum diameter of AVMs was smaller than 3 centimeters in 11 patients,ranged from 3 to 6 centimeters in 16,and larger than 6 centimeters in 1.Twenty-one AVMs were located in the functional areas and 7 in non-functional areas.Deep vein drainage was noted in 15,two-way drainage in 1 and superficial drainage in 11.Spetzeler-Martin grading showed grade Ⅰ in 1,grade Ⅱ in 7,grade Ⅲ in 13,grade Ⅳ in 6 and grade V in 1.After operation,endovascular embolization,27 patients had significantly improved symptoms; one patient had no effect on any treatments.Conclusion The elderly patients with cAVMs have low morbidity with hemorrhage as its most common symptom; and the lesions mostly locate in the supratentorial region; active intervention therapy (resection,endovascular embolization and radiotherapy)can obviously improve the prognosis and quality of lives.

Kirschner wires and tension-band fixation through posterolaterla minimal incision combined with plaster fixation at supinated position for the treatment of Garland type III supracondylar humeral fractures in children / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy of Kirschner wires and tension-band fixation through posterolateral minimal incision for the treatment of displaced supracondylar humeral fractures in children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2005 to December 2010, there were 62 children (38 males and 24 females, ranging in age from 2 to 14 years, averaged 6.8 years) with Gartland type III supracondylar humeral fractures. All the injuries were caused by falling, and all the fractures were fresh injuries. The duration from injury to surgery ranged from 5 to 20 hours. All the children were treated with open reduction through a posterolateral minimal approach, Kirschnere wires and tension-band fixation were fixed with plaster at 90 degrees of elbow flexion, forearm supination, and palms facing upwards. The kirschner pins and wires were removed after fractures healing. The Flynn's criterion was used to evaluate therapeutic effects.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The operation time ranged from 30 to 50 min (averaged 45 min). All the patients achieved solid union. Sixty patients were followed up, and the mean follow-up time was 15 months (ranged from 6 to 24 months). At the 6th month after operation, 48 patients got an excellent result, 9 good, 3 bad (light cubitus varus with varus angle about 6 degree, without infection on function) according to Flynn's criteria. There were no complications such as procedure-related pin tract infection, iatrogenic nerve and vascular injuries and myositis ossificans.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The Kirschner wires and tension-band fixation through posterolateral minimal incision approach can obtain clearer surgical field, simple in operation, and few wound complications. Therefore, this modified treatment is an effective and reliable method for pediatric displaced Gartland type III supracondylar humeral fractures.</p>

Comparison of surgical treatment in single thoracolumbar-lumbar adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: anterior versus posterior surgery / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To retrospectively compare the clinical outcomes of anterior and posterior surgical treatment in single thoracolumbar-lumbar adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Between January 2004 and August 2008, 22 female patients, averaged 14.5 years old (12 to 18 years), of thoracolumbar-lumbar adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were corrected by anterior correction and fusion. At the same time, 20 female patients, average 14.8 years old (11 to 19 years), were corrected by posterior segmental pedicle screw correction and fusion. Operation time, SRS-24 score, intraoperative blood loss, and coronal and sagittal plane correction were compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All patients were followed up for 12 to 63 months, the mean follow-up time was 28.3 months. Operation time was (334 + or - 36) min in anterior group and (292 + or - 17) min in posterior group; intraoperative blood loose was (940 + or - 207) ml in anterior group and (596 + or - 227) ml in posterior group; fusion levels were (5.2 + or - 0.8) in anterior group and (6.7 + or - 1.2) in posterior group. There were statistically significant difference in operation time, intraoperative blood loss and fusion levels (P < 0.05). Coronal correction was (93 + or - 5)% in anterior group and (88 + or - 5)% in posterior group. SRS-24 scores averaged 98 in anterior group and averaged 94 in posterior group. There was no statistical difference in coronal correction or SRS-24 scores (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Posterior surgery has the same correction results compared with anterior surgery in treating thoracolumbar-lumbar adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Posterior surgery takes less operation time, brings less trauma but has longer fusion levels.</p>

Application of lumbar-pelvic fixation in lumbosacral reconstruction after resection of sacral tumors / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the short-term clinical results of a new approach of lumbar-pelvic fixation for lumbosacral reconstruction after resection of sacral tumors.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifteen patients with sacral tumors underwent lumbar-pelvic fixation using TSRH-3D, CDH-M8 or ISOLA with iliac screws. The lumbosacral stability was evaluated according to the X-ray result to assess the feasibility and therapeutic effect of this approach.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>X-ray showed that high lumbosacral stability was achieved in all the 15 cases after the operation, and satisfactory therapeutic effect was obtained.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Lumbar-pelvic fixation with iliac screw is feasible for lumbosacral reconstruction after resection of the sacral tumors, which provides strong internal fixation and produce good clinical outcomes.</p>

Lumbar interspinous non-fusion techniques: comparison between Coflex™ and Wallis / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the short-term clinical outcome of non-fusion techniques using interspinous implantation Coflex(TM) and Wallis treatment in patients with lumbar spine degenerative diseases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-one cases of lumbar stenosis, 18 of lumbar disc herniation, and 34 of lumbar stenosis with lumbar disc herniation were evaluated. Among the 43 cases receiving Coflex(TM) implantation, 41 had operations in one segment and 2 in 2 segments. In the other 50 cases with Wallis implantation, 47 had fixation of 1 segment and 3 had 2 segments fixed. JOA Score, Oswestry Disable Index (ODI) and VAS were used to evaluate the short-term clinical results.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average operating time was 64.55 min in Coflex(TM) implantation with an average blood loss of 81.82 ml. The average operating time was 82.71 min in Wallis implantation, which caused an average blood loss of 89.66 ml. Significant improvements in the JOA Score, ODI and VAS were noted after the operations.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The two interspinous non-fusion techniques, Coflex and Wallis, produce good short-term clinical outcome in the treatment of lumbar spine degenerative diseases.</p>

Effects of naloxone on immunoregulation in patients with traumatic brain injury / 中华神经医学杂志

Objective To dynamically monitor the humoral immune parameters in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid and analyze the relationship between immunity and disease development and recovery after brain injury to explore the clinical effect of naloxone combined with mild hypothermia on the treatment of brain injury.Methods One hundred patients with severe craniocerebral injury admitted to our hospital from January 2008 to December 2008,were prospectively studied and equally divided into treatment group and control group.The control group was given conventional therapy,while the treatment group was given naloxone combined with mild hypothermia besides conventional therapy.We detected the changes of the contents of IgG,IgA,IgM,complement c3 and albumin in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid on the 4th,14th,and 21st d of injury.Then we compared the differences between the humoral immune parameters and both the clinical infection rates and the disability grades in the 2 groups.Results No statistical significance in the immune indexes of blood and the IgM content of cerebrospinal fluid was found between the control group and the treatment group (P>0.05),while statistical significances in the changes of the contents of IgG,IgA,IgM and albumin in the cerebrospinal fluid,the clinical infection rates and the disability grades were found between the 2 groups (P<0.05).The positive rate of complement c3 in the cerebrospinal fluid was statistically significant between the 2 groups on the 4th d of injury (P<0.05).Conclusion Naloxone combined with mild hypothermia has definite curative effect and no obvious adverse reaction in treating patients with craniocerebral injury,may resulting from the humoral regulation of naloxone.

Clinical observation on Jiquan (HT 1) for treatment of cervical spondylosis of nerve root type / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe acupuncture at Jiquan (HT 1) with different manipulations for improvement of abnormal sensation of the upper limb induced by cervical spondylosis of nerve root type.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and seven cases were randomly divided into 3 groups. The lifting-thrusting group (n = 37) were treated with acupuncture at Jiquan (HT 1) with lifting-thrusting manipulation, the twirling group (n = 36) with acupuncture at Jiquan (HT 1) with twirling manipulation and the routine needling group (n = 34) with acupuncture at C4 - T1 Jiaji (EX-B 2), Quchi (LI 11).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate of 91.9% in the lifting-thrusting group was significantly better than 58.3% in the twirling group (P < 0.005) and 76.5% in the routine needling group (P < 0.05), and the therapeutic effect of the twirling group was similar to that in the routine needling group CP > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture at Jiquan (HT 1) with lifting-thrusting manipulation can obviously improve abnormal sensation of the upper limb induced by cervical spondylosis of nerve root type.</p>

Analysis on the effect of secondary mutations on Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of secondary mutations on Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three primary and 24 secondary mutations were identified in 4 Chinese families which included male offspring.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All of the four pedigrees carried classic LHON mutations at nucleotide (nt) 11778, and did not carry any point of 24 secondary mutations. Nevertheless many polymorphic points were found in the nearby fragments of these pedigrees, such as 5178, 5108, 3705, 3721, 13734, etc.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Male offspring sequences should be analyzed in pedigrees with LHON to avoid the influence of familial inheritance characteristic which mitochondrial DNA polymorphism carried. Existence of the "repair genes" may affect the development of LHON.</p>

Role of Caspase-3 in acute light damage to retina of rats / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of Caspase-3 in retinal damage caused by light exposure in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Light injury to retina was induced by persistent exposure to illumination (intensity: 30 000 +/- 50 lux) of operating microscope for 30 minutes in the right eyes of Sprague-Dawley rats. The pathological changes of retina were observed under optical and electron microscopies at different time points, which were 6 hours, 1, 3, 7, and 15 days after the light exposure. Apoptosis of retinal cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. The activity of Caspase-3 was evaluated by using the Caspase-3 assay kit. At the same time, the expression of Caspase-3 protease was determined with Western blot analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The examination results of optical and transmission electron microscopes showed that edema of inner and outer segments of the retina, especially the chondriosome inside the inner segment, became obvious 6 hours after the light exposure. The change was deteriorated along with the increasing time. The structures of the discoidal valve dissociated in the outer segment simultaneously. Disorderly arranged nuclei, karyopycnosis, and thinning in the outer nuclear layer were observed. The retinal pigment epithelium almost disappeared during the later stage. The staining results of Annexin-V combined with PI demonstrated that the proportion of apoptotic cells increased with time. The proportion between 7th day (82.7%) and 15th day (80.4%), however, showed no significant difference. Caspase-3 became remarkably active with the lapse of time, which increased from 0.02 at 6th hour to the peak of 9.8 at 7th day before it started to descend. The Western blot detected a expression of the active form of Caspase-3 at 7th day and 15th day.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Apoptosis of photoreceptor cells is markedly involved in the light damage and Caspase-3 protease may play an important role in the apoptotic process of the retina after light exposure in rats.</p>

Changes of NF-kappaB/I kappa B alpha in N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced retinal damage in rats / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the changes of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) in the course of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced apoptosis of rat retinal photoreceptor cells and investigate the mechanism of MNU-induced retinal damage.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A single intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg MNU was given to 50-day-old female rats, which were sacrificed at different intervals after MNU treatment. The retinal damage was examined with optical microscopy and photoreceptor cell apoptosis detected by TUNEL assay. Western blotting was performed to analyze the changes in NF-kappaB.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Pyknosis of the photoreceptor cell nuclei and disorientation of the outer segment of the photoreceptor layer was observed 24 h after MNU treatment, and the outer nuclear layer and photoreceptor layer were almost completely lost on day 7. Photoreceptor cell apoptosis peaked at 24 h, and in the apoptotic cascade, NF-kappaB p65 protein was only detected 12 and 24 h after MNU treatment, whereas the amount of I kappa B alpha, in contrast, markedly increased in the cytoplasm as well as in the nuclei.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>MNU-induced retinal damage might be mediated through the signaling pathway of NF-kappaB/I kappa B alpha.</p>