Selection and validation of reference genes for RT-qPCR in ophiocordyceps sinensis under different experimental conditions.

The Chinese caterpillar mushroom, Ophiocordyceps sinensis (O. sinensis), is a rarely medicinal fungus in traditional chinese herbal medicine due to its unique medicinal values, and the expression stability of reference genes is essential to normalize its gene expression analysis. In this study, BestKeeper, NormFinder and geNorm, three authoritative statistical arithmetics, were applied to evaluate the expression stability of sixteen candidate reference genes (CRGs) in O. sinensis under different stress [low temperature (4°C), light treatment (300 lx), NaCl (3.8%)] and different development stages (mycelia, primordia and fruit bodies) and formation of morphologic mycelium (aeriasubstrate, hyphae knot mycelium). The paired variation values indicated that two genes could be enough to accurate standardization exposed to different conditions of O.sinensis. Among these sixteen CRGs, 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) and beta-Tubulin (ß-TUB) showed the topmost expression stability in O.sinensis exposed to all conditions, while glutathione hydrolase proenzym (GGT) and Phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI) showed the least expression stability. The optimal reference gene in different conditions was various. ß-TUB and Ubiquitin (UBQ) were identified as the two most stable genes in different primordia developmental stage, while phosphoglucomutase (PGM) with elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1-α) and 18S rRNA with UBQ were the most stably expressed for differentially morphologic mycelium stages and different stresses, respectively. These results will contribute to more accurate evaluation of the gene relative expression levels in O.sinensis under different conditions using the optimal reference gene in real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis.

[Curative effect of the combined therapy of warm acupuncture at back-shu points of five zang organs and western medicine on depression of yang deficiency pattern and its attenuating effect].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic results and the occurrence of adverse reactions of medicine between the combined therapy of warm acupuncture at back-shu points of five zang organs and the western medicine and the simple wes-tern medication, and observe the therapeutic effect and attenuating effect of this combined therapy in treatment on depression of yang deficiency pattern. METHODS: A total of 80 patients with depression of yang deficiency pattern were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group （39 cases/group）. In the control group, escitalopram oxalate tablets were administered orally every day. In the observation group, on the base of the medication as the control group, warm acupuncture therapy was exerted at back-shu points of five zang organs, for 30 min each time, 5 times a week. The duration of treatment was 6 weeks in two groups. Before and after treatment, the scores of Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) and the antidepressant side effect scale (SERS) were evaluated and electroencephalogram (EEG) was detected; and the curative effect was assessed according to HAMD reduction rate in patients of the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the HAMD and SERS scores were lower than those before treatment in both groups. Compared with the control group, the HAMD and SERS scores were lower (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the EEG result was improved (P<0.01) in the observation group. The clinical total effective rate of the observation group was 97.43% (38/39), higher than 92.30% (36/39) of the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The combined therapy of warm acupuncture at back-shu points of five zang organs and western medicine effectively relieves depression of yang deficiency pattern in the patients and its overall therapeutic effect is better than simple western medication, besides, the combined therapy alleviates the adverse reactions induced by simple western medication.

Clinical application of the fast track surgery model based on preoperative nutritional risk screening in patients with esophageal cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical application of the fast track surgery (FTS) model based on preoperative nutritional risk screening (NRS) in patients with esophageal cancer. METHODS: 180 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent surgery between January 2008 and April 2014 were randomly divided into study and control groups based on matched-pairs. The study group underwent assessment using the NRS 2002 and received treatment before surgery and the control group was treated by the conventional method. Postoperative indicators including time to first exsufflation, time to defecation, time to chest tube removal, hospitalization duration, and postoperative complications were examined after surgery. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the postoperative indicators including time to first exsufflation (88.4±2.76 vs 57.83±2.68 hours), time to first defecation (4.68±1.71 vs 3.28±1.34 days), time to chest tube removal (4.30±0.25 vs 2.70±0.33 days), postoperative hospitalization durations (11.71±1.39 vs 9.00±0.78 days), and total complication rate (18.9% [17/90] vs 6.67% [6/90]) were all significantly reduced in the study group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The FTS model based on NRS can effectively promote postoperative rehabilitation of patients, reduce the incidence of postoperative complications, and shorten hospital stay.