Massage Therapy in Children with Asthma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective. To systematically evaluate the efficacy of massage, a traditional treatment method of traditional Chinese medicine on children with asthma. Methods. Literatures from 5 databases using the date ranging from 1 January, 1990, to 13 December, 2016, were reviewed, which were all randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy on children with asthma and effect on lung function mainly by massage therapy. Results. 14 researches with 1299 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with control group, a better efficacy was found in treatment group, which focused on massage therapy. Compared with control group, there was remarkable increase on FEV1 as well as PEF in treatment group. Conclusion. All studies have shown that massage therapy has a significantly positive effect on children with asthma, improves the pulmonary function parameters of large airway, reduces the plasma concentrations of PAF and prostaglandin, and increases the levels of PAF-AH and DP1; therefore, it greatly improves pulmonary function. However, the limited research designs of included studies lead to high risk of bias. More randomized controlled trials with better methodological quality are needed to further confirm the effectiveness of massage.

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Optimal Branching Structure of Fluidic Networks with Permeable Walls

Biological and engineering studies of Hess-Murray's law are focused on assemblies of tubes with impermeable walls. Blood vessels and airways have permeable walls to allow the exchange of fluid and other dissolved substances with tissues. Should Hess-Murray's law hold for bifurcating systems in which the walls of the vessels are permeable to fluid? This paper investigates the fluid flow in a porous-walled T-shaped assembly of vessels. Fluid flow in this branching flow structure is studied numerically to predict the configuration that provides greater access to the flow. Our findings indicate, among other results, that an asymmetric flow (i.e., breaking the symmetry of the flow distribution) may occur in this symmetrical dichotomous system. To derive expressions for the optimum branching sizes, the hydraulic resistance of the branched system is computed. Here we show the T-shaped assembly of vessels is only conforming to Hess-Murray's law optimum as long as they have impervious walls. Findings also indicate that the optimum relationship between the sizes of parent and daughter tubes depends on the wall permeability of the assembled tubes. Our results agree with analytical results obtained from a variety of sources and provide new insights into the dynamics within the assembly of vessels.

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Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields Affect Myogenic Processes in C2C12 Myoblasts: Role of Gap-Junction-Mediated Intercellular Communication

Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) can interact with biological systems. Although they are successfully used as therapeutic agents in physiatrics and rehabilitative practice, they might represent environmental pollutants and pose a risk to human health. Due to the lack of evidence of their mechanism of action, the effects of ELF-EMFs on differentiation processes in skeletal muscle were investigated. C2C12 myoblasts were exposed to ELF-EMFs generated by a solenoid. The effects of ELF-EMFs on cell viability and on growth and differentiation rates were studied using colorimetric and vital dye assays, cytomorphology, and molecular analysis of MyoD and myogenin expression, respectively. The establishment of functional gap junctions was investigated analyzing connexin 43 expression levels and measuring cell permeability, using microinjection/dye-transfer assays. The ELF-EMFs did not affect C2C12 myoblast viability or proliferation rate. Conversely, at ELF-EMF intensity in the mT range, the myogenic process was accelerated, through increased expression of MyoD, myogenin, and connexin 43. The increase in gap-junction function suggests promoting cell fusion and myotube differentiation. These data provide the first evidence of the mechanism through which ELF-EMFs may provide therapeutic benefits and can resolve, at least in part, some conditions of muscle dysfunction.

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HIPK2 Overexpression and Its Prognostic Role in Human Papillomavirus-Positive Tonsillar Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Tonsillar squamous cell carcinomas (TSCCs) are the most common human papillomavirus- (HPV-) associated oropharyngeal cancers with poor prognosis. Homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2) is a central regulator of p53, which participates in apoptosis during the DNA damage response. HIPK2 is involved in HPV-associated uterine cervical and cutaneous carcinogenesis through its binding of HPV E6, thereby preventing apoptosis and contributing to tumor progression. However, its clinical and prognostic significance in TSCC remains unclear. HIPK2 mRNA levels were analyzed in 20 normal tonsils and 20 TSCC specimens using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Immunohistochemistry of HIPK2 was performed in 79 resected specimens. HIPK2 was expressed in 57% of the TSCCs, and HIPK2 protein expression and HIPK2 mRNA levels were higher in TSCCs than in normal tonsils. HIPK2 overexpression was associated with poorly differentiated carcinoma and low alcohol consumption and was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival and disease-free survival (DFS) in TSCC and a negative independent prognostic factor for DFS in patients receiving postoperative radiotherapy. HIPK2 overexpression had a significant association with poorer DFS in HPV-positive TSCCs, but not in HPV-negative tumors. HIPK2 overexpression may be a potential prognostic marker for predicting prognoses and a high risk of recurrence, particularly in patients with HPV-positive TSCC.

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Editorial Board/Publication information

Publication date: June 2017
Source:Injury, Volume 48, Supplement 1





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Comparing the Vitex-castus extract and cabergoline effects on estrous induction in female dogs

Abstract

Cabergoline is used to induce estrus, stop lactation, and induce abortion in small animals. The specific doses of Vitagnus extract have almost identical properties of cabergoline that reduce prolactin and increase the concentration of FSH hormone. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of Vitex agnus-castus extract and cabergoline on prolactin concentration and hormonal changes associated with the onset of estrous cycle in dogs. Twelve healthy adult cyclic female-mix breed dogs were selected and randomly aligned in treatment (6 dogs, Vitagnus extract 1.5 ml daily for 5 weeks, 80–90 mg/ml, PO) and control groups (6 dogs, cabergoline, daily for 5 weeks, 5 μg/kg, PO). Blood sampling and vaginal smears were taken weekly. Serum samples were stored at −20 °C until prolactin, estradiol, and progesterone were measured by ELISA method. Based on vaginal cytology results, four (cabergoline) and three (Vitagnus) dogs were in the estrous phase after 5 weeks of treatment. The average concentration of the prolactin was not changed during 5 weeks and between two groups. There was no significant difference in progesterone and estradiol levels between groups. The changes of estradiol concentration were significant during the 5 weeks (p < 0.01). The mean concentration of this hormone changed significantly between weeks 2 and 3 (p < 0.01), 2 and 5 (p < 0.05), and 3 and 4 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, Vitagnus extract had hormonal effects similar to those of cabergoline for induction of estrus in bitches.

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Evidence and Renovascular Disease: Trials and Mistrials?

Occlusive renovascular disease presents a vexing challenge. Hypertension induced by renal artery stenosis is among the most widely studied and well-characterized causes of secondary hypertension. When arterial occlusion reaches critical levels, renal blood flow decreases and kidney function eventually deteriorates. It seems intuitive that restoring vessel patency and blood flow should provide clinical benefits both for relieving hypertension and preserving kidney function. This principle was widely accepted in the days of renovascular surgery (mainly in the 1970s) and after wider application of endovascular angioplasty and stenting (in the 1990s).

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