[Development of needle-thread integrative embedding needle].

The needle-thread integrative embedding needle consists of needle handle, needle core, thread, locker and needle guard. The thread is fixed in the core by the locker. With the needle inserted into acupoint, the locker is separated from the thread, while the thread is embedded directly into acupoint, to achieve one acupoint with one needle.

Short-term effect of 0.01% atropine sulphate eye gel on myopia progression in children.

Aim: To investigate the effect of 0.01% atropine sulphate eye gel on myopia progression and axial elongation in a 6-month treatment in children.

Methods: Totally 185 children aged 6-12y with binocular myopia of 3.

[International standard -: experience and recommendation].

The 22236 --, as the first international standard (IS) in acupoint thread-embedding field, has been officially published by International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 2020. The background of its development, difficulties and countermeasures in the process of development were reviewed, and the experience of standard development was summarized, aiming to provide methods and references for future IS development of acupuncture and moxibustion instruments. It is suggested that strengthening the discourse power in the process of IS development, increasing the compound talents cultivation for IS, valuing the importance of enterprises in the development of IS, and creating an advantageous environment for the development of IS are the keys to improve the level of standardization of acupuncture and moxibustion instruments and play a more important role in the IS development.

Genistein inhibits Ang II-induced CRP and MMP-9 generations via the ER-p38/ERK1/2-PPARγ-NF-κB signaling pathway in rat vascular smooth muscle cells.

Aims: C-reactive protein (CRP) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 are involved in the inflammation of atherosclerosis lesions. Genistein (Gen) has been demonstrated to exert beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system. However, it remains unclear whether Gen produces anti-inflammatory effect in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).

Meta-analysis of the association between three microRNA polymorphisms and breast cancer susceptibility.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in three microRNAs (miRNAs), rs2910164 in miR-146a, rs11614913 in miR-196a2, and rs3746444 in miR-499, have been associated with breast cancer (BC) susceptibility, but the evidence is conflicting. To obtain a more robust assessment of the association between these miRNA variants and BC risk, we carried out a meta-analysis through systematic literature retrieval from the PubMed and Embase databases. A total of 9 case-control studies on rs2910164, 12 on rs11614913, and 7 on rs3746444 were included.

Is adjuvant chemotherapy necessary for patients with microinvasive breast cancer after surgery?

Objective: Survival and treatment of patients with microinvasive breast cancer (MIBC) remain controversial. In this paper, we evaluated whether adjuvant chemotherapy is necessary for patients with MIBC to identify risk factors influencing its prognosis and decide the indication for adjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods: In this retrospective study, 108 patients with MIBC were recruited according to seventh edition of the staging manual of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC).

Significance of thrombocytosis in clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis of gastric cancer.

Purpose: We aimed to study the relationship between thrombocytosis and clinical features of gastric cancer focussing on platelet counts and gastric cancer progression through different TNM stages.

Methods: According to the normal range of platelet count in our institution, 1,596 patients were divided to two groups: a thrombocytosis group (120 patients, >400?1000/μL) and a control group (1,476 patients, ≤400?1000/μL).

Results: The incidence of thrombocytosis was 7.

[Effects of controllable dynamic inhaled exposure of moxa smoke on LDL-r, ICAM-1 and morphology of heart tissue in rats].

Objective: To observe the change of lipid metabolism and vascular endothelium as well as morphology of heart tissue in rats who were long-time exposed to moxa smoke with different concentrations in order to provide reference for safety assessment of moxa smoke on cardiovascular system.

Methods: One hundred and sixty-eighty Wistar rats were randomly divided into a control group, a low-concentration group, a median-concentration group and a high-concentration group, 42 rats in each one. The rats were exposed to moxa smoke with concentration of 0%, 10%, 40% and 70%, respectively, for 20 min per day.

[Effect of Qufeng Tongluo Recipe on expression of desmin and CD2AP proteins in adriamycin-induced nephropathy rats: an experimental research].

Objective: To investigate the effect of Qufeng Tongluo Recipe (QTR) on the expression of desmin and CD2-associated protein (CD2AP) in adriamycin-induced nephropathy rats.

Methods: The adriamycin-induced nephropathy rat model was induced by a disposable intravenous injection of adriamycin. The model was successfully established after 3 weeks.

Influence of the gastrointestinal microflora and efflux transporters on the absorption of scutellarin and scutellarein.

Scutellarin (SG) and its aglycone, Scutellarein (S), are flavonoids of therapeutic cardiocerebrovascular disease. SG was hydrolyzed by bacterial enzyme into S which was absorbed in the intestine. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the microflora in the intestinal lumen and the efflux transporter of intestinal epithelial cells on the absorption process of SG and S.

Cervical cancer cells with positive Sox2 expression exhibit the properties of cancer stem cells.

Background: Although Sox2 expression has been found in several types of cancer, it has not yet been used to identify or isolate CSCs in somatic carcinoma.

Methods: SiHa and C33A cells stably transfected with a plasmid containing human Sox2 transcriptional elements driving the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) reporter were sorted into the Sox2-positive and the Sox2-negative populations by FACS, and Sox2 expression was detected by western blot and immunohistochemistry. The differentiation, self-renewal and tumor formation abilities, as well as the expression of the stemness and the EMT related genes of the Sox2-positive and the Sox2-negative cervical cancer cells were characterized in vitro and in vivo.

Comparison of Cancer Incidence between China and the USA.

Objective: The incidence of cancer varies around the globe, especially between less-developed and developed regions. The aim of this study is to explore differences in cancer incidence between China and the USA.

Methods: Data were obtained from the GLOBOCAN 2008 database.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits angiotensin II and interleukin-6-induced C-reactive protein production in macrophages.

Background: Consumption of green tea has been associated with health benefits against multiple diseases including cardiovascular diseases. However, the action mechanisms of green tea and its major ingredient epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) against cardiovascular diseases are still unclear. Emerging evidence has suggested a common role for C-reactive protein (CRP) in the pathogenesis of inflammation and atherosclerosis.

Rosiglitazone inhibits angiotensin II-induced C-reactive protein production in human aortic endothelial cells through regulating AT(1)-ROS-MAPK signal pathway.

Objective: Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease. As an inflammatory molecule, C-reactive protein (CRP) plays a direct role in atherogenesis. Our previous study confirmed that angiotensin II (Ang II) is capable of inducing CRP generation in human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs).

Effects and mechanisms of the functional parts of Dahuang Zhechong pill containing serum on platelet-derived growth factor-stimulated proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells.

Objective: To investigate and compare the effects and mechanisms of three functional parts of Dahuang Zhechong Pill (DHZCP), including drugs with the function of removing blood stasis and promoting blood circulation (FP-I), drugs with the function of expelling heat and moistening dryness (FP-II), and drugs with the function of nourishing yin and replenishing blood (FP-III) of DHZCP, on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-stimulated vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation with the method of serum pharmacology.

Methods: VSMCs proliferation of rat was assayed by measuring the cell viability with the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. DNA synthesis in VSMCs was examined by detecting 5'-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation with the immunocytochemical method.

[Mechanism of Dahuang Zhechong pill against atherosclerosis induced by balloon angioplasty in rabbits].

Objective: To study the mechanism of Dahuang Zhechong pill (DHZCP) against atherosclerosis induced by balloon angioplasty in rabbits.

Methods: Atherosclerosis model was established by the combination of balloon angioplasty-induced endothelial injury and high cholesterol feeding in rabbit. Male New Zealand rabbits were divided into six groups randomly: normal control, sham, model, positive control and two doses of DHZCP-treated groups.

[Expression of indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase and its correlation with prognosis in breast cancer patients].

Objective: To investigate the expression of indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO) in breast cancer and its correlation with clinicopathologic factors and prognosis.

Methods: The expression of IDO, CD31, CD105 proteins in 40 specimens of breast cancer were assessed by immunohistochemistry.

Results: The overexpression rate of IDO in breast cancer was 67.

Pravastatin inhibits C-reactive protein generation induced by fibrinogen, fibrin and FDP in isolated rat vascular smooth muscle cells.

Objective: The available evidence indicates that C-reactive protein (CRP) participates directly in atherosclerosis formation as an inflammatory molecule. Our previous investigation suggested that fibrinogen, fibrin and fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) produce a pro-inflammatory effect on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) through inducing CRP generation. In the present study, we observed the effect of pravastatin on CRP generation induced by fibrinogen, fibrin and FDP in rat VSMCs.

Effects of Panax notoginseng saponins on proliferation and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells.

Aim Of The Study: Atherosclerosis is a common cardiovascular disease, and linked with the development of many cardiovascular complications, such as myocardial ischemia and stroke. Although pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is not completely elucidated, increasing evidence has demonstrated that abnormal proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) plays an important role in formation of atherosclerosis. Previous studies showed that saponins from Panax notoginseng (PNS) possess anti-atherosclerotic properties.

Dahuang zhechong pill containing serum inhibited platelet-derived growth factor-stimulated vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation by inducing G1 arrest partly via suppressing protein kinase C α-extracellular regulated kinase 1/2 signaling pathway.

Objective: To investigate effects of dahuang zhechong pill ( DHZCP) on the cell cycle and the related signal pathways in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) with the method of serum pharmacology.

Methods: DNA synthesis in VSMCs was examined by detecting 5'-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation with the immunocytochemical method. The cycle of VSMCs was evaluated with flow cytometry.

Pro-inflammatory effect of fibrinogen and FDP on vascular smooth muscle cells by IL-6, TNF-α and iNOS.

Aims: Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory response of the arterial wall to multiple endothelial injuries. As one of the inflammatory markers, fibrinogen has been implicated in pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. But, it is not completely understood whether atherogenesis of fibrinogen is related to its pro-inflammatory effect on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).

Rosiglitazone regulates c-reactive protein-induced inflammatory responses via glucocorticoid receptor-mediated inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase-toll-like receptor 4 signal pathway in vascular smooth muscle cells.

C-reactive protein (CRP) activates toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) to initiate inflammatory response involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis through mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal pathways. Rosiglitazone, a synthetic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) agonist, is considered to be an important inhibitor of the inflammatory response. The present study was to explore the effect of rosiglitazone on the CRP-induced inflammatory responses and the related signal pathway in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).

Ellagic acid-induced hypercoagulable state in animals: a potentially useful animal hypercoagulable model for evaluation of anticoagulants.

Objective: To establish and evaluate a hypercoagulable animal model for the assessment of anticoagulants.

Methods: Forty mice, thirty-two rats, and twenty-four rabbits were randomly and equally divided into control group (saline) and three ellagic acid (EA)-treated groups (low, middle, and high doses). In the mice, bleeding time (BT) was estimated with tail transaction, and clotting time (CT) with template method.