Alpha-ketoglutarate supplementation ameliorates ovarian reserve and oocyte quality decline with aging in mice.

Assisted reproductive technology is widely accepted as an effective treatment to improve female fertility, but the decline of aging oocyte quality remains an important factor in the decrease of female fecundity. However, the effective strategies for improving oocyte aging are still not well understood. In the study, we demonstrated that ROS content and abnormal spindle proportion were increased and mitochondrial membrane potential was decreased in aging oocytes. However, supplementation of α-ketoglutarate (α-KG), an immediate metabolite in the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), for 4 months to aging mice, significantly increased the ovarian reserve showed by more follicle numbers observed. In addition, the oocyte quality was significantly improved, as demonstrated by reduced fragmentation rate and decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, in addition to a lower rate of abnormal spindle assembly, thereby improving the mitochondrial membrane potential. Consistent with the in vivo data, α-KG administration also improved the post-ovulated aging oocyte quality and early embryonic development by improving mitochondrial functions and reducing ROS accumulation and abnormal spindle assembly. Our data revealed that α-KG supplementation might be an effective strategy to improve the quality of aging oocytes in vivo or in vitro.

Nicotinamide riboside supplementation ameliorated post-ovulatory oocyte quality decline.

In brief: Oocyte quality and its NAD+ level decrease with time during in vitro culture. This study shows that nicotinamide riboside (NR) supplementation improves early embryonic development potential in post-ovulatory oocytes by decreasing the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and reducing DNA damage and apoptosis which could potentially increase the success rate of assisted reproductive technology (ART). Abstract: The quality of post-ovulatory oocytes deteriorates over time, impacting the outcome of early embryonic development during human ART. We and other groups have found that NAD+, a prominent redox cofactor and enzyme substrate, decreases in both aging ovaries and oocytes. In this study, we found that the NAD+ levels decreased in the post-ovulatory mouse oocytes during in vitro culture and this decrease was partly prevented by NR supplementation. NR treatmenty restored MII oocyte quality and enhanced the early embryonic development potential of post-ovulatory oocytes via alleviating mitochondrial dysfunction and maintaining normal spindle/chromosome structure. Also, treatment with NR decreased ROS levels and reduced DNA damage and apoptosis in post-ovulatory oocytes. Taken together, our findings indicated that NR supplementation increases the oocyte quality and early embryonic development potential in post-ovulatory oocytes which could potentially increase the success rate of ART.

Intravitreal Conbercept Injection as an Adjuvant in Vitrectomy with Silicone Oil Infusion for Severe Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy.

Purpose: To assess the clinical effects of preoperative, intraoperative, or preoperative combined with intraoperative intravitreal conbercept (IVC) injection in vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade for severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Methods: Ninety-eight eyes of 98 severe PDR patients undergoing vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade were randomly assigned to 3 groups: Group 1 (34 eyes) received IVC injections 3 to 5 days before surgery; Group 2 (35 eyes) received IVC injections at the end of surgery; and Group 3 (29 eyes) received IVC injections 3 to 5 days before and at the end of operation. Follow-up examinations were performed for 6 months. Results: The incidence and severity of intraoperative bleeding were not significantly different (P = 0.233). However, the duration of surgery was significantly shorter in Group 1 and Group 3 compared with Group 2 (P < 0.001). The incidences of early and late recurrent vitreous hemorrhage (VH) were 32.35%, 28.57%, and 13.80%, respectively. At 6-month follow-up, mean best-corrected visual acuity had significantly increased to 1.25 ± 0.45 logMAR in Group 1, 1.29 ± 0.46 logMAR in Group 2, 1.16 ± 0.44 logMAR in Group 3 (all P < 0.001). The incidence of postoperative VH, neovascular glaucoma, and retinal detachment in Group 3 was slightly lower, however, no significant differences were observed (all P > 0.05). In young patients, similar results were observed and Group 3 had better visual improvements (P = 0.037). Conclusions: Preoperative IVC injection could be a safe and effective adjunct in pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade for severe PDR. Preoperative combined with intraoperative IVC are promising, especially in young patients.

Dandelion root extract suppressed gastric cancer cells proliferation and migration through targeting lncRNA-CCAT1.

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common tumors worldwide. Standard treatment after early detection involves surgical excision (recurrence is possible), and metastatic gastric cancer is refractory to immuno-, radio-, and most harmful chemotherapies. Various natural compounds have shown efficacy in killing different cancers, albeit not always specifically. In this study, we show that dandelion root extract (DRE) specifically and effectively suppresses proliferation and migration in human gastric cells without inducing toxicity in noncancerous cells. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are known to promote tumorigenesis in many cancer types. Here, we showed that the lncRNA colon cancer-associated transcript-1 (CCAT1) was down-regulated in dandelion-treated GC cells. Furthermore, downregulation of CCAT1 inhibited proliferation and migration of gastric cells. We also found that DRE exerted its function in GC cells partially through targeting CCAT1. This data will provide a basis on which further research in cancer treatment through DRE can be executed.

Role of Acupoint Area Collagen Fibers in Anti-Inflammation of Acupuncture Lifting and Thrusting Manipulation.

The role of the acupoint area collagen fibers in the efficacy of acupuncture lifting and thrusting (L&T) manipulation will be explored in this paper. 30 male NZW rabbits were randomly divided into 6 groups: sham operation group (Group N), model group (Group M), acupuncture without manipulation group (Group W), acupuncture L&T manipulation group (Group A), collagenase pretreatment group (Group JM), and collagenase pretreatment + acupuncture L&T manipulation group (Group JA). The bacterial endotoxin was used to generate the rabbit fever models. Acupuncture was applied at IL-11. The levels of IL-1ß, TNF-α, and IL-4 and the rectal temperature were measured at 2 h, 4 h, and 6 h after modeling and the collagen fiber morphology at acupoint area was observed after 6 hours. Results. As compared with Group N, the levels of IL-1ß and TNF-α in Group M were significantly higher; the level of IL-4 was significantly lower (P < 0.05). As compared with Group M, IL-1ß and TNF-α in Groups W and A were significantly lower and IL-4 was significantly higher (P < 0.05). As compared with Group W, IL-1ß and TNF-α in Group A were lower and IL-4 was higher (P < 0.05). The collagen fiber in Group A was slightly rough, distorted, and fractured. As shown in studies, the endotoxin-induced inflammatory response can be significantly inhibited by acupuncture whose efficacy can also be significantly improved by the manipulations. Collagenase pretreatment may be the first receptor to the mechanical force of the L&T manipulation.

Randomized Controlled Trial of Intraportal Chemotherapy Combined With Adjuvant Chemotherapy (mFOLFOX6) for Stage II and III Colon Cancer.

OBJECTIVES: The optimal time to initiate adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery in patients with colon cancer is not clear. We investigated the benefit of combined intraportal chemotherapy administered during radical surgery with adjuvant chemotherapy for treating stage II and III colon cancer. METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned to OCTREE arm (intraportal chemotherapy plus mFOLFOX6) or a standard adjuvant chemotherapy arm (mFOLFOX6). The primary study endpoint was disease-free survival. The secondary endpoints included metastasis-free survival, overall survival, and safety. RESULTS: The intent-to-treat population comprised 237 patients. With a median follow-up of 44 months, the hazard ratio (OCTREE vs mFOLFOX6) was 0.66 (95% confidence interval, 0.43-0.90), a 34% risk reduction in favor of OCTREE (P = 0.016). The 3-year disease-free survival rate was 85.2% for OCTREE and 75.6% for mFOLFOX6 alone (P = 0.030). The 3-year metastasis-free survival rates were 87.6% for OCTREE and 78.0% for mFOLFOX6 (P = 0.035). Patients had lower distant metastatic rate in the OCTREE arm (12.7% vs 22.7%; P = 0.044), when compared with the mFOLFOX6 arm. The 3-year overall survival was no significant difference between 2 arms (P = 0.178). Neutropenia occurred in 12.7% of the patients receiving OCTREE and in 2.5% of the patients receiving mFOLFOX6 (P = 0.003) within 2 weeks of surgery, and grade 3 or 4 toxicity event was no difference between 2 regimens. CONCLUSIONS: Combination of intraoperative intraportal chemotherapy with mFOLFOX6 reduced the occurrence of distant metastases and improved disease-free survival in patients with stage II and stage III colon cancer.

[Review and reflection on 2010' Hwato Cup National University Students' Acupuncture Manipulation Skills Competition].

The questionnaire and the result of 2010' Hwato Cup National University Students' Acupuncture Manipulation Skills Competition were analyzed in this paper. It was showed that the competition achieved the significant effects of enhancing acupuncture manipulation skills for the university students and promoting the standardization on teaching acupuncture manipulation skills. The teachers and students were not very satisfied with the current acupuncture manipulation skill education. In the competition, only the item of reciting the classics achieved more than 90 scores, which just displayed the memory ability. The results of the manipulation competition were generally not very high. It is suggested that concerning to teaching acupuncture and moxibustion in the future, the ratio of class time for improving the practice ability on the human body should be increased and the practice on some manipulation techniques such as inserting the needle by holding the needle tip with the pressing hand, reinforcing-reducing technique by twirling and rotating the needle and warming needle technique should be intensified. It is necessary to enhance the interpretation, emphasis and supplementation on the keys and details of some manipulations of acupuncture and moxibustion.

Self-expanding metallic stents drainage for acute proximal colon obstruction.

AIM: To clarify the usefulness of the self-expanding metallic stents (SEMS) in the management of acute proximal colon obstruction due to colon carcinoma before curative surgery. METHODS: Eighty-one colon (proximal to spleen flex) carcinoma patients (47 males and 34 females, aged 18-94 years, mean = 66.2 years) treated between September 2004 and June 2010 for acute colon obstruction were enrolled to this study, and their clinical and radiological features were reviewed. After a cleaning enema was administered, urgent colonoscopy was performed. Subsequently, endoscopic decompression using SEMS placement was attempted. RESULTS: Endoscopic decompression using SEMS placement was technically successful in 78 (96.3%) of 81 patients. Three patients' symptoms could not be relieved after SEMS placement and emergent operation was performed 1 d later. The site of obstruction was transverse colon in 18 patients, the hepatic flex in 42, and the ascending colon in 21. Following adequate cleansing of the colon, patients' abdominal girth was decreased from 88 ± 3 cm before drainage to 72 ± 6 cm 7 d later, and one-stage surgery after 8 ± 1 d (range, 7-10 d) was performed. No anastomotic leakage or postoperative stenosis occurred after operation. CONCLUSION: SEMS placement is effective and safe in the management of acute proximal colon obstruction due to colon carcinoma, and is considered as a bridged method before curative surgery.

[Study on twirling reinforcing-reducing manipulation based on the parameter figure of the acupuncture manipulation apparatus].

Explore the acupuncture manipulation and principle of twirling reinforcing-reducing to standardize manipulation of twirling reinforcing-reducing, so as to increase the therapeutic effect of acupuncture. The authors performed the manipulation of twirling reinforcing-reducing on the acupuncture manipulation apparatus in which were developed in the department of TCM engineering by rotating with the thumb forward as twirling-reinforcing method and the thumb backward as twirling-reducing method, respectively, and recorded these manipulation parameters and figures in real-time mode. At the same time, the lifting-thrusting manipulation curves could be exhibited in the twirling manipulation figures, with frequency synchronization between the two manipulation figures, the amplitude of the former being smaller than the latter, and the baseline of the lifting-thrusting manipulation curves in twirling-reinforcing manipulation figures being a gradual sinking and a gradual ascending in twirling-reducing manipulation figures. These findings indicate that twirling reinforcing-reducing manipulation includes slight lifting-thrusting manipulation, and twirling-reinforcing manipulation is accompanied by lifting force and twirling-reducing manipulation accompanied by thrusting force. The principle of twirling reinforcing-reducing manipulation is similar to that of lifting-thrusting reinforcing-reducing manipulation.

[Approach to teaching methods of the needling skill of filiform needle].

The present paper is armed at approach to a set of teaching method about the needling skill of filiform needle, so as to increase teaching quality. After review and analysis on present situation of teaching methods about the needling skill of filiform needle, it is raised that traditional teaching methods are unable to objectively and comprehensively reflect characteristics and requirement of manipulation, so try to adopt acupuncture manipulation detection instrument, on the basis of traditional teaching methods about the needling skill of filiform needle. And the parameters and figures of manipulation examine of real-time collection in 131 students and information of 120 copies of questionnaire are analyzed and summarized. It is indicated that combined teaching method of traditional model and the manipulation instrument is more reasonable, and basic manipulation training most he strengthened in manipulation skill training, particularly, pay attention to training of twirling manipulation.

[Survival of patients with liver metastasis from colorectal cancer by different modes of therapy: a report of 363 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation between different therapies and survival of liver metastasis from colorectal cancer ( LMCC) , and to compare the clinical outcome of synchronous liver metastasis (SLM) with that of metachronous liver metastasis (MLM). METHODS: The clinical data of 363 patients with LMCC were retrospectively reviewed with focus on the correlation between different therapy and survival. RESULTS: Of these 363 patients, 160 had SLM and 203 had MLM. Between the SLM and MLM group, there was no significant difference in age, or gender or primary cancer site (P > 0. 05 ), but significant differences were observed in condition of liver metastasis including liver lobe involved, focus number, maximum focus diameters and level of serum CEA and CA199 before therapy(P <0. 05). Ninety-one patients underwent curative hepatic resection, 22 of them in the SLM group and 69 in the MLM group. Mortality rate related to operation was 4. 5% (1/22) in SLM group and 2. 9% (2/69) in MLM group( P < 0.05). All patients were followed until 31/6/2005. The 3-year survival rate was 5. 2% with a median survival time of 10 +/- 1 months for the SLM group, and it wasl6. 4% and 17 +/- 1 months for the MLM group (P<0.01). Regarding to the treatment modalities, the 3-year survival rate was 30. 2% with a median survival time of 26 months for curative hepatic resection group, and it was 0% - 16. 7% and 10 - 17 months for non-operation groups treated by intervention, chemotherapy, radiofrequency therapy, percutaneous ethanol injection and Chinese traditional drugs (P <0. 05, P <0. 01 ). CONCLUSION: Curative hepatic resection is still the first choice for liver metastasis from colorectal cancer improving the survival significantly. Other non-operative methods also can improve phase II resection rate. Metachronous liver metastasis has higher resection rate and better survival than the synchronous liver one.

[Effect of soil fertility on chestnut stem diseases].

Studies on the relationship between soil fertility and chestnut stem disease showed that in soil physical factors, the disease index in the chestnut orchards with clay soil and stone soil was higher than that with loam, sand loam and yellow-brown loam soil. It was increased with the increasing soil bulk density, and decreased with increasing soil depths. In soil chemical factors, the disease index negatively associated with the contents of organic matter and available phosphorus, and not with total nitrogen, K and pH value. Based on the above factors and stepwise regression, five factors such as soil depth, bulk density, clay soil, organic matter and available phosphorus were regarded as important to the disease, and a linear multiple regression model that predicts the development level of the diseases was derived, which could assist in manageming the particular stand against chestnut stem diseases in Anhui Province.