[Acupuncture in neurology]

Acupuncture is a reflex therapy with the aim of rearranging an imbalance of the organism. Acupuncture is a regulatory therapy. At first, there have to be diagnosis and indication according to the rules of western modern medicine. With that, we carry on with a standard program and standard exciting needle technique. We will report about acupuncture in neurology in three chapters: neuro-orthopedics, neuropsychiatry and somatopsychic diseases.

Double-stranded RNA injection produces nonspecific defects in zebrafish

We have investigated the ability of dsRNA to inhibit gene functions in zebrafish using sequences targeted to the maternal gene pouII-1, the transgene GFP, and an intron of the zebrafish gene terra. We found that embryos injected with all of these dsRNAs at approximately 7.5 pg/embryo or higher had general growth arrest during gastrulation and displayed various nonspecific defects at 24 h postfertilization, although embryonic development was unaffected before the midblastula stage. Reducing dsRNA concentration could alleviate the global defects. Injection of GFP dsRNA (7.5-30 pg/embryo) did not inhibit GFP expression in transgenic fish, although abnormal embryos were induced. Co-injection of GFP mRNA with either GFP or non-GFP dsRNA caused reduction of GFP expression. Whole-mount in situ hybridization clearly showed that embryos injected with dsRNA degraded co-injected and endogenous mRNA without sequence specificity, indicating that dsRNA has a nonspecific effect at the posttranscriptional level. It appears that RNAi is not a viable technique for studying gene function in zebrafish embryos.

[Cytocompatible evaluation for skin reproducing membrane of medical fibroin]

This study was intended to evaluate the cytocompatibility of skin reproducing membrane of medical fibroin. Cell growth rate test and hemolysis test were conducted to investigate the cytotoxicity and hemolysis reaction for skin reproducing membrane. The results showed there was no obvious cytotoxicity for this kind of membrance. The hemolysis rate was 1.15%. In conclusion, skin reproducing membrane is a material of good cytocompatibility.

Activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma pathway inhibits osteoclast differentiation

The nuclear receptor and transcription factor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma), regulates the activity of other transcription factors in the adipogenic differentiation and inflammatory response pathways. We examined the possible function of the PPAR-gamma pathway in osteoclast (Ocl) formation from CD34(+) hematopoietic stem cells (CD34(+) HSCs), using a co-culture system comprised of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and CD34(+) HSCs, both derived from bone marrow. Ocl formation in this co-culture system is enhanced by the addition of exogenous osteoprotegerin ligand (OPGL), an essential Ocl differentiation factor, and macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF). The data indicate that soluble OPGL (sOPGL) and M-CSF stimulate Ocl formation in the co-cultures up to 4-fold compared with CD34(+) HSCs alone treated with sOPGL and M-CSF. CD34(+) HSCs, but not hMSCs, express PPAR-gamma, and 15-deoxy-Delta(12, 14)-prostaglandin-J2 (15d-PG-J2), a PPAR-gamma agonist, completely blocked the effects of sOPGL and M-CSF on Ocl formation and activity. The inhibitory effect of 15d-PG-J2 is specific to the Ocl lineage in both human and mouse models of osteoclastogenesis. Accordingly, parallel experiments demonstrate that sOPGL activates the NF-kappaB pathway within mouse Ocl progenitors, and this effect was abolished by 15d-PG-J2. These data establish a link between PPAR-gamma and OPGL signaling within Ocl progenitors, and support a role for PPAR-gamma pathway in the modulation of osteoclastogenesis.

A school-based asthma clinic: a partnership model for managing childhood asthma

Childhood asthma is a major public health problem. It is the leading cause of childhood hospitalizations and school absences despite recent advances in management. Current standards of care call for client education as partners in disease management. In pediatrics, this calls for shared decision making between health care provider, parent, and child. Traditional care delivery systems often fall short of meeting this standard. This article describes a nurse practitioner-run school-based asthma clinic, designed as a pilot study, to fill these gaps. Characteristics of the community that affected outcomes are described.

[Study on correlation between in vivo and in vitro tests of biomaterials--correlation between leukocyte chemotaxis test and muscular implant test in rabbits]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between the results of in vivo and in vitro tests of biomaterials. With muscular implant test and leukocyte chemotaxis test, the levels of tissue toxicity of seven biomaterials were evaluated. The samples with high-level toxicity showed weak leukocyte chemotaxis, which would influence the anti-inflammatory reaction to foreign bodies. By the method of Spearman rank correlation, the coefficient was between 0.89286-0.98198 indicating that the correlation of the two tests is excellent.

Human mesenchymal stem cells promote human osteoclast differentiation from CD34+ bone marrow hematopoietic progenitors

Interactions between osteoclast progenitors and stromal cells derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) within the bone marrow are important for osteoclast differentiation. In vitro models of osteoclastogenesis are well established in animal species; however, such assays do not necessarily reflect human osteoclastogenesis. We sought to establish a reproducible coculture model of human osteoclastogenesis using highly purified human marrow-derived MSCs (hMSCs) and CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). After 3 weeks, coculture of hMSCs and HSCs resulted in an increase in hematopoietic cell number with formation of multinucleated osteoclast-like cells (Ocls). Coculture of hMSCs with HSCs, transduced with a retroviral vector that expresses enhanced green fluorescent protein, produced enhanced green fluorescent protein+ Ocls, further demonstrating that Ocls arise from HSCs. These Ocls express calcitonin and vitronectin receptors and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase and possess the ability to resorb bone. Ocl formation in this assay is cell contact dependent and is independent of added exogenous factors. Conditioned medium from the coculture contained high levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-11, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), and macrophage-colony stimulating factor. IL-6 and LIF were present at low levels in cultures of hMSCs but undetectable in cultures of HSCs alone. These data suggest that coculture with HSCs induce hMSCs to secrete cytokines involved in Ocl formation. Addition of neutralizing anti-IL-6, IL-11, LIF, or macrophage-colony stimulating factor antibodies to the coculture inhibited Ocl formation. hMSCs seem to support Ocl formation as undifferentiated progenitor cells, because treatment of hMSCs with dexamethasone, ascorbic acid, and beta-glycerophosphate (to induce osteogenic differentiation) actually inhibited osteoclastogenesis in this coculture model. In conclusion, we have developed a simple and reproducible assay using culture-expanded hMSCs and purified HSCs with which to study the mechanisms of human osteoclastogenesis.

A Drosophila doublesex-related gene, terra, is involved in somitogenesis in vertebrates

The Drosophila doublesex (dsx) gene encodes a transcription factor that mediates sex determination. We describe the characterization of a novel zebrafish zinc-finger gene, terra, which contains a DNA binding domain similar to that of the Drosophila dsx gene. However, unlike dsx, terra is transiently expressed in the presomitic mesoderm and newly formed somites. Expression of terra in presomitic mesoderm is restricted to cells that lack expression of MyoD. In vivo, terra expression is reduced by hedgehog but enhanced by BMP signals. Overexpression of terra induces rapid apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that a tight regulation of terra expression is required during embryogenesis. Terra has both human and mouse homologs and is specifically expressed in mouse somites. Taken together, our findings suggest that terra is a highly conserved protein that plays specific roles in early somitogenesis of vertebrates.

[A comparative study on cytocompatibility of medical PVA and intelligent PVA-g-NIPAAm hydrogels]

"Intelligent" Polymers which resonse with large property changes to small physical or chemical stimuli are attracting more and more attention in the field of medical science. One trend in the area is to modify some conventional medical polymers to form intelligent biomaterials. This investigation was designed to evaluate and compare in vitro cytocompatibility of PVA hydrogel, which could be used as a kind of solid support with good biomcompatibility, and PVA-g-NIPAAm, which was produced by irradiation grafting of NIPAAm onto the said PVA hydrogel support. Cytotoxicity test was carried out with a modified Cell Relative Growth Rate test (RGR test). On the day 2, day 4 and day 7, the RGRs of the PVA hydrogel were 82%, 90% and 102% respectively while the RGRs of the PVA-g-NIPAAm were 77%, 86% and 100%. The grades of the cytotoxicity of the PVA and PVA-g-NIPAAm hydrogels were 0, so they had no cytotoxicity as judged by our tests. After 24 hours, cells in direct contact with the two kinds of samples were observed morphologically through the Olympus inverted microscope and had a normal development. The conclusion suggests that irradiation grafting is a good way to modify conventional medical polymers to produce intelligent biomaterials.

[Evaluation on cytotoxicity of gallium alloy]

Cytotoxicity is an important indicator to the biocompatibility of biomaterials. In this study, the cytotoxicity of Gallium alloy was evaluated by the method of cell relative growth rate in vitrousing L-929 mouse fibroblast. The cell relative growth rate of Gallium alloy was the absorbency ratio between the solution of Gallium alloy and negative control. The relative growth rates of Gallium aloy were converted into the scores of cytotoxicity. It was found from the results that Gallium alloy had no cytotoxicity.

[Acupuncture therapy with TENS in chronic pain at the Neurologic Pain-Acupuncture Ambulatory Care Clinic of the Vienna Lainz Hospital]

TENS therapy represents a good completion of chronic pain treatment, prolonging the effects of acupuncture and helping to overcome therapy resistance. Application for patients who are under Warfarin treatment and anxious of needles is obvious. Under the careful control of physicians TENS therapy is harmless. This report should be stimulating and enlarge knowledge of physicians specialized on pain treatment.

Positive and negative cis-acting elements are required for hematopoietic expression of zebrafish GATA-1

GATA-1 is a transcription factor required for development of erythroid cells. The expression of GATA-1 is tightly restricted to the hematopoietic lineage. Using transgene constructs containing zebrafish GATA-1 genomic sequences and the green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene, we previously showed that a 5.6-kb enhancer/promoter fragment is sufficient to direct erythroid-specific expression of the GFP. In this study, we used enhancer/promoter fragments containing various deletion and point mutations to further characterize the cis-acting elements controlling tissue-specific GATA-1 expression. We report here the identification of distinct cis-acting elements that cooperate to confer on GATA-1 its hematopoietic expression pattern. A CACCC box, located 142 bp upstream of the translation start codon, is critical for the initiation of GATA-1 expression. A distal double GATA element is required for maintaining and enhancing the hematopoietic expression of GATA-1. The erythroid-specific activity of the GATA-1 promoter is also enhanced by a 49-bp sequence element located 218 bp upstream of the CACCC element and a CCAAT box adjacent to the double GATA motif. Finally, the hematopoietic specificity of the GATA-1 promoter is secured by a negative cis-acting element that inhibits expression in the notochord.

Lessons from an evaluation of the effectiveness of an asthma day camp

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effectiveness of applied teaching methodologies in a camp setting on asthma self-management skills in school-age children.

DESIGN

This was a descriptive pilot study using a one-group pretest-posttest design.

SAMPLE

Thirty-four subjects, ages 6 to 12 years, representing a typical clinical population of children with asthma.

METHODS

Children's asthma knowledge, symptoms, behavior, and mastery, as well as peak-flow technique, were measured 2 to 3 weeks before camp and then again on the last day of camp. Baseline measures of parents' asthma knowledge and family stress related to asthma were obtained. Outcomes specific to asthma management, such as missed school days, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations, were evaluated by parent report the year before and after the intervention.

RESULTS

Significant improvement in peak-flow technique and a reported reduction in emergency room visits and missed school days after camp were found.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

In this pilot study, the use of an applied teaching format for school-age children in an asthma day camp resulted in some learning. More rigorous design and instrumentation are important for better evaluation of programs such as this. Nurses working with these populations should plan structured evaluations of the programs so they can best meet the children's needs.

Modification of bacterial artificial chromosomes through chi-stimulated homologous recombination and its application in zebrafish transgenesis

The modification of yeast artificial chromosomes through homologous recombination has become a useful genetic tool for studying gene function and enhancer/promoter activity. However, it is difficult to purify intact yeast artificial chromosome DNA at a concentration sufficient for many applications. Bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) are vectors that can accommodate large DNA fragments and can easily be purified as plasmid DNA. We report herein a simple procedure for modifying BACs through homologous recombination using a targeting construct containing properly situated Chi sites. To demonstrate a usage for this technique, we modified BAC clones containing the zebrafish GATA-2 genomic locus by replacing the first coding exon with the green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene. Molecular analyses confirmed that the modification occurred without additional deletions or rearrangements of the BACs. Microinjection demonstrated that GATA-2 expression patterns can be recapitulated in living zebrafish embryos by using these GFP-modified GATA-2 BACs. Embryos microinjected with the modified BAC clones were less mosaic and had improved GFP expression in hematopoietic progenitor cells compared with smaller plasmid constructs. The precise modification of BACs through Chi-stimulated homologous recombination should be useful for studying gene function and regulation in cultured cells or organisms where gene transfer is applicable.

GATA-1 expression pattern can be recapitulated in living transgenic zebrafish using GFP reporter gene

In this study, DNA constructs containing the putative zebrafish promoter sequences of GATA-1, an erythroid-specific transcription factor, and the green fluorescent protein reporter gene, were microinjected into single-cell zebrafish embryos. Erythroid-specific activity of the GATA-1 promoter was observed in living embryos during early development. Fluorescent circulating blood cells were detected in microinjected embryos 24 hours after fertilization and were still present in 2-month-old fish. Germline transgenic fish obtained from the injected founders continued to express green fluorescent protein in erythroid cells in the F1 and F2 generations. The green fluorescent protein expression patterns in transgenic fish were consistent with the pattern of GATA-1 mRNA expression detected by RNA in situ hybridization. These transgenic fish have allowed us to isolate, by fluorescence-activated cell sorting, the earliest erythroid progenitor cells from developing embryos for in vitro studies. By generating transgenic fish using constructs containing other zebrafish promoters and green fluorescent protein reporter gene, it should be possible to visualize the origin and migration of any lineage-specific progenitor cells in a living embryo.

Promoter analysis in living zebrafish embryos identifies a cis-acting motif required for neuronal expression of GATA-2

We have used zebrafish embryos to dissect the promoter activity of a gene with a complex expression pattern during embryogenesis. GATA-2 is a transcription factor required for hematopoiesis and is dynamically expressed in hematopoietic tissues and in the central nervous system. Using constructs containing zebrafish GATA-2 genomic flanking sequences and the green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene, we demonstrate that distinct regulatory domains are required for hematopoietic, enveloping layer (EVL), and neuronal expression of GATA-2. During gastrulation, GFP expression is confined to the ventral ectoderm and lateral mesoderm and is lacking in the dorsal shield. Cells derived from the regions expressing GFP give rise to hematopoietic progenitors, EVL cells, and neurons. Deletion analysis of the 7.3-kb GATA-2 promoter region revealed that a 1.1-kb DNA sequence is critical for expression of GATA-2 in neurons. Fine mapping revealed that a 31-bp region is required for neuron enhancer activity, and mutagenesis showed that the DNA motif CCCTCCT is essential for GATA-2 promoter activity in the central nervous system of zebrafish. Our use of zebrafish embryos can be exploited as a whole animal system for the dissection of any developmentally regulated vertebrate promoter.

DNA fingerprint variability within and among parental lines and its correlation with performance of F1 laying hens

Genetic diversity within and among nine pure lines of Beijing White Leghorn chickens was determined by DNA fingerprinting using human ministatellite probes 33.6 and α-globin 3'HVR, as well as bacteriophage M13. Within lines similarity coefficients ranged from 0.497 to 0.628, significantly higher than that within a sample of white chicken from a local market. Relationships among lines were established by clustering analysis based on inter-line coefficients of difference calculated from DNA fingerprints of pooled DNA. A complete diallel crossing among the nine pure lines was conducted. By using linear correlation analysis, it was found that the maximum distance between parental lines was positively correlated with egg number, egg production, survival rate and their corresponding heterosis percentages within a pair of reciprocal crosses. Similar relationships were found where only the higher of the reciprocal crosses were used in the analysis. It was also shown that similarity coefficients within a sire line or dam line were positively correlated with 40-week egg number and its heterosis percentage and the heterosis percentage for 40-week egg production, but negatively correlated with the 40-week survival rate of the cross-bred populations.

Continuing Education for Advanced Nurse Practitioners: Preparing Nurse-Midwives as Clinical Preceptors

Nurses in advance practice roles are increasingly being sought as clinical preceptors for master's students. These nurses have variable experience as clinical teachers. A program was designed to prepare Certified Nurse-Midwives as clinical preceptors for students enrolled in a master's-level nurse-midwifery program. The program focused on techniques to foster clinical decision making, feedback, evaluation, and learning styles. Evaluations were positive and reflected that preceptors benefited from filmed modeling simulations and case study analyses.

Preceptor development. An opportunity to stimulate critical thinking

In this article, the authors describe a preceptor development program with several unique features. The program provides preceptors with strategies to promote critical thinking and has expanded content on feedback and evaluation processes. Ongoing professional development is continued through follow-up seminars. These seminars provided preceptors with an opportunity to share their experiences, which led to identification of important issues for further exploration. For example, preceptors need assistance developing teaching strategies to meet the needs of the middle-aged new graduate nurse.

On-line buffer removal and fraction selection in gradient capillary high-performance liquid chromatography prior to electrospray mass spectrometry of peptides and proteins

The technique for on-line removal of buffers and for fraction selection to eliminate source clogging and suppression of electrospray ionization by unwanted constituents consisted of: (i) selecting the initial mobile phase composition to retain analytes on top of a capillary high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) column; (ii) washing the buffer isocratically to waste, using a two-way micro dump valve; (iii) starting the gradient and switching the dump valve to introduce analytes into the source. Peptide and protein mixtures were prepared in 0.05-0.5 M phosphate and 0.55 mM tris-based buffers, and water. After buffer removal, chromatograms and electrospray spectra were indistinguishable from those of aqueous controls, down to 1 pmol (acidic fibroblast growth factor) consumed, and up to 78 kDa (bovine transferrin) molecular weight. Aided by the dump valve, 100 fmol of angiotensin could be fractionated and identified on the slope of a 10 x 10(6) fmol of leucine enkephalin HPLC peak. On-line buffer removal and fraction selection eliminate the need for additional preparation steps than can lead to excessive sample losses.

[The effect of standardized acupuncture programs in the after-care of accident patients]

153 patients suffering from pain, edematous conditions, and impaired movement following traumas sustained in accidents were treated or after-treated with acupuncture. Acupuncture was applied in adherence to a standardized program according to the individual types of injury. The stimulus was applied by means of steel needles inserted into body as well as ear acupuncture points. In all 9 groups, improvement of the painful condition was significant to highly significant as it was regarding improvement of the movement impairment, the latter not having been emphasized in the other 3 groups. Remaining complaints of long standing following accident traumas could also be positively influenced. Acupuncture proved itself to be an effective form of therapy for after-treatment of accident patients, presenting a valuable supplement to the field of rehabilitation, especially when combined with other physical therapeutic measures.