Prognostic significance of microRNA-20a-5p levels which promotes proliferation and invasion by targeting cyclin G2 in small cell lung cancer

MicroRNA-20a-5p (miR-20a-5p) has been shown to function as a tumor promoter factor in several cancers. However, its role in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) remains unclear. In this study, we have made an attempt to measure the tumor tissue levels of miR-20a-5p in patients with SCLC using quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The biological function of miR-20a-5p in SCLC cells was investigated in vitro and in vivo studies, including cell proliferation, migration assays and tumorigenicity in nude mice. Meanwhile?we conducted the luciferase reporter assay to verify the biological relationship between miR-20a-5p and CCNG2. The expression of miR-20a-5p was significantly upregulated in human SCLC compared to that in normal tissues. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that patients with high expression of miR-20a-5p are closely related with the shorter survival of SCLC. Further, multivariate analysis showed that miR-20a-5p was an independent prognostic factor. Increasing miR-20a-5p expression promotes the proliferation, migration and invasion of the NCI-H446 cells in vitro and in vivo. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay demonstrated that miR-20a-5p directly targets CCNG2. These findings suggest that miR-20a-5p levels might be a novel diagnostic and prognostic marker of SCLC. Inhibiting miR-20a-5p could be a promising therapeutic strategy for SCLC.

L-carnitine reduces acute lung injury via mitochondria modulation and inflammation control in pulmonary macrophages

Acute lung injury (ALI) or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a critical respiratory syndrome with limited effective interventions. Lung macrophages play a critical role in the pathogenesis of abnormal inflammatory response in the syndrome. Recently, impaired fatty acid oxidation (FAO), one of the key lipid metabolic signalings, was found to participate in the onset and development of various lung diseases, including ALI/ARDS. Lipid/fatty acid contents within mouse lungs were quantified using the Oil Red O staining. The protective effect of FAO activator L-carnitine (Lca, 50, 500, or 5 mg/mL) was evaluated by cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) assay, real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR), ELISA, immunoblotting, fluorescence imaging, and fluorescence plate reader detection in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (100 ng/mL)-stimulated THP-1-derived macrophages. The in vivo efficacy of Lca (300 mg/kg) was determined in a 10 mg/kg LPS-induced ALI mouse model. We found for the first time that lipid accumulation in pulmonary macrophages was significantly increased in a classical ALI murine model, which indicated disrupted FAO induced by LPS. Lca showed potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects on THP-1 derived macrophages upon LPS stimulation. Mechanistically, Lca was able to maintain FAO, mitochondrial activity, and ameliorate mitochondrial dynamics. In the LPS-induced ALI mouse model, we further discovered that Lca inhibited neutrophilic inflammation and decreased diffuse damage, which might be due to the preservation of mitochondrial homeostasis. These results broadened our understanding of ALI/ARDS pathogenesis and provided a promising drug candidate for this syndrome.

Effect and mechanism of MLL5 knock-out on the growth of colon cancer CT26 cell transplanted tumor / 中国肿瘤生物治疗杂志

@#[摘 要] 目的：探讨混合谱系白血病5（MLL5）基因在小鼠结肠癌CT26细胞移植瘤生长中的作用及其分子机制。方法：利用CRISPR/Cas9技术构建MLL5基因缺失、MLL5和DDX58双基因缺失的结肠癌CT26细胞模型，用Sanger测序和WB法验证敲除效果。将基因敲除的CT26细胞接种到野生型BALB/c小鼠和免疫缺陷型NSG小鼠皮下，构建基因缺失结肠癌CT26细胞移植瘤小鼠模型，并观察移植瘤的生长及荷瘤小鼠的总生存期（OS）。结果：在野生型小鼠中，MLL5基因缺失的CT26细胞移植瘤生长速度显著性低于野生型癌细胞移植瘤，并延长荷瘤小鼠的OS（P<0.01）；在NSG小鼠中，MLL5基因缺失对CT26细胞移植瘤的生长速度以及荷瘤小鼠的OS没有明显改变。MLL5基因缺失提高了癌细胞中视黄酸诱导基因1（RIG-1）蛋白水平，DDX58基因缺失可逆转MLL5基因缺失在CT26细胞移植瘤中的作用。结论：MLL5基因缺失可提高结肠癌CT26细胞中RIG-1蛋白水平、促进肿瘤免疫，从而抑制荷瘤小鼠肿瘤生长，提示MLL5可能成为结肠癌治疗的新靶点。

Development and evaluation of a training model for paracentetic suprapubic cystostomy and catheterization

OBJECTIVES: Minimally invasive paracentetic suprapubic cystostomy is a technique that should be learned by all surgical trainees and residents. This study aimed to develop a self-made training model for paracentetic suprapubic cystostomy and placement of the suprapubic catheter and then to evaluate its effectiveness in training fourth-year medical students. METHODS: Medical students were divided into an experimental group receiving comprehensive training involving literature, video, and model use and a control group receiving all the same training protocols as the experimental group except without hands-on practice using the model. Each student's performance was video-recorded, followed by subjective and objective evaluations by urology experts and statistical analysis. RESULTS: All students completed the surgical procedures successfully. The experimental group's performance scores were significantly higher than those of the control group (median final performance scores of 91.0 vs. 86.8, respectively). Excellent scores were achieved by more students in the experimental group than in the control group (55% vs. 20%), and fewer poor scores were observed in the experimental group than in the control group (5% vs. 30%). CONCLUSIONS: Based on its cost-effectiveness, reusability, and training effectiveness, this paracentetic suprapubic cystostomy training model is able to achieve goals in teaching practice quickly and easily. Use of the model should be encouraged for training senior medical students and resident physicians who may be expected to perform emergent suprapubic catheter insertion at some time.

Antimicrobial susceptibility and fluctuations in clonal complexes of serogroup 6 Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates collected from children in Beijing, China, between 1997 and 2016

ABSTRACT This study examined the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and clonal complex (CC) characteristics of serogroup 6 Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates collected from children in Beijing, China, between 1997 and 2016. Serotypes were determined using the Quellung reaction, and the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of the isolates were determined using the disc-diffusion method or by E-test. Sequence types (STs) were assigned based on multilocus sequence typing. A total of 250 isolates were examined, with 55.2%, 30.0%, 12.8%, and 2.0% of isolates identified as serotypes 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D, respectively. All of the isolates were susceptible to levofloxacin and vancomycin, and the non-suceptibitility rate to penicillin was 41.6%. Eighty-two distinct STs, assigned to 13 CCs and 28 singletons, were identified. CC982 was the most prevalent CC amongst serotype 6A isolates (34%), followed by CC9789 and CC3173. Amongst serotype 6B isolates, CC90 and CC4542 were the most common, accounting for 25.3% and 14.7% of isolates respectively. Over the study period, the prevalence of CC982, CC4542, and CC4536 isolates showing susceptibility to penicillin and cefuroxime decreased, and the proportion of CC3173, CC9789, CC855, and CC902 isolates showing non-susceptibility to these two antibiotics increased.

Knock-down of cytokine induced apoptosis inhibitor 1 gene sensitized leukemia K562 cells to imatinib / 中国肿瘤生物治疗杂志

@#[ [Abstract] ] Objective: To investigate the biological effects and the related mechanisms of cytokine induced apoptosis inhibitor 1 (CIAPIN1) on the sensitivity of K562 chronic myeloid leukemia cells to imatinib. Methods: Specific short hairpin RNA(shRNA) interference vectors targeting CIAPIN1 (CIAPIN1-shRNA) were constructed. Interference efficiency of interference group (K562 cells transfected with CIAPIN1-shRNA) and control group (K562 cells transfected with scramble-shRNA) was evaluated using Real-time PCR, Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. The interference group and control group were treated by 2 μmol/L imatinib. Cell viability was detected using MTT assay. Colony formation ability was detected using cell colony forming experiment. Cell cycle and apoptosis was detected using Flow cytometry and Western blotting. Results: CIAPIN1 expression was decreased effectively by specific shRNA targeting CIAPIN1. The CIAPIN1 mRNA content in CIAPIN1-shRNA group accounted (29.74±4.03)% of scramble-shRNA group, while the CIAPIN1 protein content in CIAPIN1-shRNA group accounted (21.57±2.18)% of scramble-shRNA group. CIAPIN1 knock-down significantly enhanced the inhibitory activity of imatinib on proliferation and colony forming ability of K562 cells. The colony number and radius of the CIAPIN1-shRNA+imatinib group was (15.60±1.03) and (2.63±0.55) μm, which were all less than those of the scramble-shRNA+imatinib group. The knock down also increased the activity of imatinib to block the cell cycle at G1 phase and to promot apoptosis of cells. The cell ratio at G1 phase of the CIAPIN1-shRNA+imatinib group was obviously increased while the ratio at S phase was obviously decreased compared with those of scramble-shRNA+imatinib group. Hoechst33258 staining and flow cytometry showed that the proportion of apoptotic K562 cells in the CIAPIN1-shRNA+imatinib group increased. The results of Western blotting showed that CIAPIN1 knock-down not only up-regulated the expressions of apoptosis related proteins (p21, Bid and Bim), but also repressed expressions of cell cycle related proteins (Cyclin D1, Bcl-xl, Bcl-2 and Mcl-1), which had synergistic effects with imatinib. Conclusion: CIAPIN1 knock-down significantly sensitized K562 cells to imatinib treatment, and the mechanism might be related with cell cycle arrest and expression of apoptosis-associated proteins.

Effects of High Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on KCC2 Expression in Rats with Spasticity Following Spinal Cord Injury / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

The effect of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on potassium-chloride cotransporter-2 (KCC2) protein expression following spinal cord injury (SCI) and the action mechanism were investigated.SCI models were established in SD rats.Five groups were set up randomly:normal control group,SCI 7-day (7D) model group,SCI 14-day (14D) model group,SCI-7D rTMS group and SCI-14D rTMS group (n=5 each).The rats in SCI rTMS groups were treated with 10 Hz rTMS from 8th day and 15th day after SCI respectively,once every day,5 days every week,a total of 4 weeks.After the model establishment,motor recovery and spasticity alleviation were evaluated with BBB scale once a week till the end of treatment.Finally,different parts of tissues were dissected out for detection of variations of KCC2 protein using Western blotting and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique.The results showed that the BBS scores after treatment were significantly higher in SCI-7D rTMS group than in SCI-14D rTMS group (P＜0.05).As compared with normal control groups,The KCC2 protein in SCI model groups was down-regulated after SCI,and the decrease was much more significant in SCI-14D model group than in SCI-7D group (P＜0.05).As compared with SCI model groups,KCC2 protein in rTMS groups was up-regulated after the treatment (P＜0.05).The up-regulation of KCC2 protein content and expression was more obvious in SCI-7D rTMS group than in SCI-14D rTMS group (P＜0.05).It was concluded that 10 Hz rTMS can alleviate spasticity in rats with SCI,which might be attributed to the up-regulation of KCC2 protein.It was also suggested that the high-frequency rTMS treatment after SCI at early stage might achieve more satisfactory curative effectiveness.

The influence factors and management of anterior chamber gas bubble emergence during femtosecond flap creation for LASIK / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

·AIM:To study the influence factors and management of anterior chamber gas bubble during femtosecond flap creation for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis ( LASIK) .·METHODS: Totally 9671 eyes of 4859 patients with femtosecond LASIK were included in this study. Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative parameters of anterior chamber gas bubble patients were analyzed and compared.·RESULTS:A total of 51 cases (0. 53%) occurred anterior chamber gas bubble during femtosecond flap creation. There was no statistical difference between uncorrected visual acuity of postoperative 1mo (-0. 076 ± 0. 09 ) and preoperative best corrected visual acuity (-0. 08±0. 04; t=-0. 34,P=0. 74). And 33 eyes (65%) did not affect the pupil tracking, but there were 18 eyes ( 35%) unable to track the pupil successfully. There was no statistical difference in uncorrected visual acuity of postoperative 1mo between trace group (-0. 06 ± 0. 08 ) and no trace group(-0. 11 ± 0. 09; t = 1. 82, P = 0. 07). The highest incidence of anterior chamber gas bubble was at 9 point, followed by 3 point. There were no statistical differences in spherical equivalent refraction, corneal curvature, corneal diameter, anterior chamber volume, anterior chamber depth and intraoperative femtosecond laser energy between anterior chamber gas bubble eyes and the contralateral eyes (P>0. 05).·CONCLUSION: Anterior chamber gas bubble formation during femtosecond flap creation for LASIK is an uncommon event. It may affect the eye tracking. There is no obvious effect on early postoperative visual acuity if intraoperative disposed properly. The direct or indirect factors of anterior chamber gas bubble formation are unclear.

Effect of caveolin-1 on renal injury and the expression of tight junction protein in MRL/lpr mice kidney / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective To study the effect of caveolin-1 on renal injury and the expression of tight junction proteins in MRL/lpr mice kidney.Methods The mice were divided into 4 groups:5 mice in the normal control group (BALB/c mice);the MRL/lpr lupus mice (n=18) were randomly divided into the MRL/lpr group in which 6 mice were included;the negative control group in which 6 mice were included;the caveolin1 transfection group in which 6 mice were included.The changes of urine protein,the levels of urea (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) were detected.The expressions of claudin-5,occludin,ZO-1 and caveolin-1 protein were determined by western bloting.Analysis of variance was used to determine statistical significant differences between the two groups.A significance level of 0.05 was considered as signigicant.Results Compared with the control group,24 h urine protein [(2 894±437) mg,(412±72) mg],BUN [(8.7±1.5) mmol/L,(6.9±0.4) mmol/L],Cr [(106±22) μmol/L,(85±4) μmol/L] were significantly increased,level of caveolin-1 protein increased (265±17,61±6),the level of occludin (114±12,190±12),claudin-5 (60±5,80±6) and ZO-1 (98±11,206±15) protein decreased in the MRL/lpr group (P＜0.05).After caveolin-1 transfection,the levels of urinary protein [(1 253±249) mg,(2 894±437) mg],BUN [(6.5±1.3) mmol/L,(8.7±1.5) mmol/L],Cr [(78±17) μmol/L,(106±22)μmol/L] were significantly decreased,and the levels of occludin (218±16,114±12),claudin-5 (87±6,60±5)ZO-1 (313±17,98±11) were increased (P＜0.05).Conclusion The expression of caveolin-1 protein in the renal tissues of lupus nephritis increases.Caveolin-1 can reduce the expression of tight junction proteins and contribute to progres-sion of lupus nephritis.

Semaphorin 4A enhances lung fibrosis through activation of Akt via PlexinD1 receptor.

Semaphorin 4A plays a regulatory role in immune function and angiogenesis. However, its specific involvement in controlling lung fibrosis, a process that is closely related to angiogenesis and inflammation is still poorly understood. In the present study, we show that treatment of Sema4A on normal lung fibroblasts induces expression of proteins that contribute to a contractile phenotype, including α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), ezrin, moesin, and paxillin. We confirm that Sema4A enhances the ability of lung fibroblasts to contract collagen gel. Sema4A treatment led to resistance to apoptosis in normal lung fibroblasts. Relative to normal lung fibroblasts, fibroblasts cultured from scars of patients with the fibrotic disease Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) showed elevated Sema4A secretion, enhanced α-SMA, ezrin, moesin, and paxillin expression, and high ability to induce collagen gel contraction. Using neutralizing antibody against Sema4A receptor, PlexinD1, we found that endogenous Sema4A signalling in SSc fibroblast was through PlexinD1 receptor. We then identified the signalling mechanism through which Sema4A-PlexinD1 promotes the ability of normal fibroblasts to contract a collagen gel matrix. Western blot analysis showed that Sema4A activated the Akt pathway in lung fibroblasts, and the specific inhibitor of Akt pathway, Akt inhibitor III, blocked the ability of Sema4A to promote the ability of lung fibroblasts to contract a collagen gel matrix. Thus, blocking Sema4APlexinD1- Akt cascades might be beneficial in reducing pulmonary fibrosis.

Effect of anticholinesterase agents on acantholysis in a mouse model of pemphigus vulgaris / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To study the effect of anticholinesterase agents on acantholysis in pemphigus vulgaris (PV) by using a mouse model.Methods Fifty-five neonatal BALB/c mice were divided into four groups:model group injected subcutaneously with the sera of patients with PV (n =15),pyridostigmine bromide group (n =15) and neostigmine methylsulfate group (n =15) subcutaneously injected with pyridostignine bromide and neostigmine methylsulfate respectively,in addition to the sera of PV patients,control group subcutaneously injected with sodium chloride physiological solution (n =10).The effect of anticholinesterase agents on acantholysis in PV was evaluated in terms of clinical presentation,histopathological manifestations and direct immunofluorescence findings.Results The injection of sera from PV patients induced characteristic changes of PV in neonatal BALB/c mice in the model group.The degree of acantholysis in the model group was higher than that in the pyridostigmine bromide group (H =21.584,P ＜ 0.001) and neostigmine methylsulfate group (H =20.641,P ＜ 0.001).No changes were observed in the control group.Conclusion Anticholinesterase agents can reduce the degree of acantholysis in the mouse model of PV.

Tissue culture of medicinal plant and abscisic acid / 中国中药杂志

Abscisic acid (ABA) plays a key role in many physiological processes of plants, and it was also applied to fields of medicinal plant biotechnology. The article presents a review of some recent application of ABA in enhancing the production of secondary metabolites of medicinal plants, improving the in vitro conservation in medicinal plant tissue culture system.

Interaction between human cytomegalovirus UL136 protein and ATP1B1 protein

Interplay between the host and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has a pivotal role in the outcome of infection. A region (referred to as UL/b’) present in the Toledo strain of HCMV and low passage clinical isolates contains 19 additional genes, which are absent in the highly passaged laboratory strain AD169. Products of the UL/b’ genes may determine the manifestations of HCMV infection in vivo. However, little is known about the host factors, which interact with UL/b’ proteins. This study was conducted to investigate the function of the HCMV UL136 protein. By yeast two-hybrid screening, the β1 subunit of the host Na+/K+-ATPase (ATP1B1) was identified to be a candidate protein, which interacts with the HCMV UL136 protein. The interaction was further evaluated both in vitro by pull-down assay and in vivo by immunofluorescent co-localization. The results showed that the UL136 protein can interact with ATP1B1 in vitro. Co-localization of UL136-EGFP and ATP1B1-DsRed in cell membranes suggests that ATP1B1 was a partner of the UL136 protein. It can be proposed that the HCMV UL136 protein may have important roles in processes such as cell-to-cell spread, and in maintaining cell osmotic pressure and intracellular ion homeostasis during HCMV infection.

Transcription pattern of UL131A-128 mRNA in HCMV clinical strains / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study and research the transcription pattern of UL131A-128 mRNA in human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) clinical low passage strains.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The UL131A-128 mRNAs of from different clinical strains and kinetic periods were amplified using 3' RACE and analyzed by sequencing. Meanwhile, clones containing UL131A-128 transcripts in a HCMV cDNA library of clinical strain were selected and sequenced.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>It is successful to obtain the transcription pattern of UL131A, UL130 and UL128 gene in HCMV clinical low passage strains, the UL131A gene consisted of two exons and the coding region of UL130 gene was not interrupted by any intron in the region as reported before. However, the transcript of UL128 gene showed two patterns, one pattern consisted of the three exons, the length is 519bp, and the other one contained the three exons and the sequence of the first intron further, the length is 642bp. The quantities of UL128 transcript containing the sequence of the first intron were higher than that of transcript only containing the three exons in the studied clinical strains at all kinetic classes. It was demonstrated that the UL131A-128 mRNA were expressed with immediately early, early and late kinetics. The result of 3'RACE and HCMV cDNA library of clinical strain is conformity.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Our results demonstrated that the UL131A, UL130 and UL128 genes were transcribed with 3'-coterminal, although the initiation points of their mRNA may be different. The variation of the transcripts found in our study indicated complex nature of transcription of UL131A-128 genes in HCMV clinical strains.</p>

Effect of melatonin on proliferation and apoptosis of fibroblasts in human hypertrophic scar / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of melatonin on proliferation and apoptosis of fibroblasts in human hypertrophic scar and its mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fibroblasts from human hypertrophic scar were isolated and cultured with DMEM medium containing 10% FBS, and then they were divided into control (C, added with ethanol), low concentration (LC, added with 1 × 10(-5) mmol/L melatonin), middle concentration (MC, added with 1 × 10(-3) mmol/L melatonin), and high concentration (HC, added with 1 mmol/L melatonin) groups according to the random number table. After being cultured for 24 hours, cell morphologic change was observed under microscope; XTT-PMS assay was used to examine cell proliferative activity; cell cycle and apoptosis were assessed with flow cytometry after double staining of FITC and PI, and the levels of cyclin E, p53, and Fas mRNA were determined with fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR. Data were processed with analysis of variance and LSD test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Fibroblasts in C group were spindle-shaped with growth in colonies. Along with the increase in melatonin concentration, fibroblasts in LC, MC, and HC groups gradually dispersed, deformed and atrophied, with shrunk cellular membrane, and decrease in ratio of nucleus and cytoplasm. (2) Proliferative activity of fibroblasts in LC, MC, and HC groups decreased along with an increase in melatonin concentration (1.49 ± 0.15, 1.24 ± 0.20, and 0.92 ± 0.09), which were lower that in C group (1.79 ± 0.10, F = 67.61, P < 0.05). Cell ratios of S and G2/M phases in LC, MC, and HC groups decreased along with an increase in melatonin concentration, which were all lower than those in C group [(10.6 ± 1.1)%, (6.1 ± 1.2)%, (3.2 ± 0.8)% vs.(16.9 ± 1.3)%, F = 286.10, P < 0.05; (13.5 ± 1.1)%, (9.8 ± 1.0)%, (6.0 ± 0.7)% vs. (16.7 ± 1.6)%, F = 162.69, P < 0.05]. Apoptotic rates in early and late stages of LC, MC, and HC groups increased along with an increase in melatonin concentration, all higher than those in C group (with F value respectively 424.05, 236.44, P values all below 0.05). The expressions of cyclin E mRNA in LC, MC, and HC groups decreased along with an increase in melatonin concentration, which were lower than that in C group (1.58 ± 0.21, 0.90 ± 0.20, and 0.24 ± 0.12 vs. 2.90 ± 0.30, F = 266.79, P < 0.05), while the expressions of p53 mRNA and Fas mRNA showed opposite tendency (with F value respectively 10.11, 12.03, P values all below 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Melatonin can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of fibroblasts in hypertrophic scar through regulating the gene expressions of cyclin E, p53, and Fas.</p>

Expression of secretions of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis in human hypertrophic scar / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the expression and significance of secretions of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in human hypertrophic scar.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Hypertrophic scar tissues obtained from 12 patients with deep-partial thickness burn or full-thickness burn and normal skin tissues from the same 7 patients with hypertrophic scar were harvested for determination of gene expression of corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), CRH receptor 1 (CRH-R1), pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), melanocortin receptor 2 (MC-2R), and glucocorticoid receptor α (GR-α) by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. After addition of corresponding antibodies, distribution differences of CRH, CRH-R1, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ATCH), MC-2R, and GR-α were observed with immunohistochemical staining. Data were processed with t test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mRNA expression of CRH, CRH-R1, POMC, and GR-α in hypertrophic scar was respectively 3.1 ± 0.8, 0.05 ± 0.03, 0.020 ± 0.007, and 0.0030 ± 0.0010, which were significantly lower than those in normal skin (20.6 ± 4.7, 0.30 ± 0.12, 0.060 ± 0.020, and 0.0200 ± 0.0070, with t values from 2.10 to 4.75, P values all below 0.05). There was no statistical difference in MC-2R mRNA expression between hypertrophic scar and normal skin (t = 1.48, P = 0.15). Immunohistochemical observation showed CRH, CRH-R1, ACTH, MC-2R, and GR-α in hypertrophic scar were located in basal layer of epidermis, fibroblast of dermis, and tube wall of sweat gland. Expressions of these indexes could also be observed in sebaceous gland and hair follicle besides above-mentioned structures.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Decreasing expression of active material of HPA axis may be related to formation of hypertrophic scar.</p>

Artemisinin and artesunate cream in the prevention and treatment of hypertrophic Scar in rabbit ears / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To evaluate the preventive and therapeutic effects of artemisinin and artesunate on hypertrophic scar in rabbit ears.Methods Full-thickness wounds to cartilage were created in New Zealand white rabbit cars to establish animal models of hypertrophic scar.Cream was prepared with artemisinin or artesunate.A total of 96 hypertrophic scars were divided into 4 groups to receive the treatment with artemisinin cream.artesunate cream.cream vehicle(vehicle control)or no treatment(blank control)28 days after wounds were created.After 28-day treatment,animals were scarified,scars were incised and examined with HE-staining and VG-staining.Hypertrophy index.numerical density of fibroblasts and area density of collagen fibers were calculated.Results Compared with vehicle and blank controls,the scars were softer and flatter,the volume of fibroblasts decreased,and collagen fibers appeared to be more regulated and sparse in artemisiIlin or artesunate cream-treated groups.The Hypertrophy index.numerical density of fibroblasts.area density of collagen fibers were(1.452±0.27),(3638.245±463.0)cells/mm2,(32.29±6.9)%in artemisinin cream-treated group,respectively,(1.445±0.24),(3585.016±638.9)cells/mm2,(34.74±8.27)%in artesunate cream-treated group,respectively.All the three parameters were significantly reduced in artemisinin and artesunate groups than in blank and vehicle control groups(all P＜0.0 1).but no significant difference was found between artemisinin and artesunate groups (P＞0.05).Conclusion Artemisinin and artestmate cream has a reliable efficacy in the prevention and treatment of hypertrophic scar in animal models.

The role of different needling manipulation in adjusting swallow-period obstacle of dysphagia after stroke / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of different needling manipulation in improvement of swallow-period obstacle of dysphagia after stroke.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and eleven cases were randomly divided into a single Lianquan RN 23 shallow needling group (group A ), single Lianquan (RN 23) deep needling group (group A2) and Lianquan (RN 23) and para-Lianquan deep multi-needling group (group B). The therapeutic effect was investigated after continuous treatment for 14 days.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was 95. 0% in the group B, 65. 7% in the group A1 and 83. 3% in the group A2, with significant difference or very significant difference when the group B compared with the group A, and the group A, (P<0. 01 or P<0. 05); the cured and markedly effective rate was 82. 5% in the group B, 20. 0% in the group Al and 52. 8% in the group A2, with a very significant difference as the group B compared with the group A, and A2 (both P<O. 01). After treatment for 7 days, there were very significant differences in scores of swallow function as the group B compared with the group A, and A2 (both P<0. 01), indicating that the group B was better than the group A1 and AZ in improvement of sensitivity of swallow dysphagia.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Deep needling with multi-needles can significantly improve swallow-period obstacle of dysphagia after stroke with higher safety and rapid effect.</p>