Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture with elongate needle plus red light radiation in treating post-herpetic neuralgia.Method Seventy patients with post-herpetic neuralgia were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 35 cases in each group. The treatment group was intervened by acupuncture with elongate needle plus red light radiation, while the control group was by orally taking Pregabalin capsules. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Quality of Life (QOL) were observed before and after intervention, and the clinical efficacies were compared between the two groups.Result The total effective rate was 97.1% in the treatment group, versus 71.4% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). After treatment, VAS and QOL scores were significantly changed in both groups (P<0.05). The VAS and QOL scores in the treatment group were significantly different from that in the control group after treatment (P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture with elongate needle plus red light radiation is effective in relieving post-herpetic neuralgia.

AIM:To investigate the effect of cyclopamine , a Hedgehog ( Hh) signaling pathway inhibitor , on the biological behavior of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cell line RBE .METHODS:The proliferation of RBE cells was detected by cell counting with Typan blue staining and MTT assay , and the apoptosis was analyzed by the flow cytometry . The Transwell invasive cabin assay was used to detect the invasion ability , and Western blot was used to determine the pro-tein expression of Gli 1 and MMP-9 in the RBE cells before and after cyclopamine treatment .RESULTS:Cyclopamine in-hibited the growth of RBE cells in a time-and dose-dependent manner .After cyclopamine treatment for 24 h, 48 h and 72 h, the apoptotic rates were significantly higher than those in control group .In control group , the number of cells invading through the Matrigel of invasion chamber was 154.52 ±13.61, while in experimental group it was 62.00 ±12.17, indica-ting that the invasion ability of the cells declined significantly .Furthermore , Western blot showed that the protein levels of Glil and MMP-9 in the RBE cells were decreased after treatment with cyclopamine for 24 h and 48 h.CONCLUSION:Blockage of the Hh signaling pathway with cyclopamine suppresses the proliferation , promotes the apoptosis and inhibits the invasion ability of RBE cells .

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features of combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cholangiolocellular type, CLC type) with stem cell features and its relationship to hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs).

METHODSClinical and histologic features of 26 cases of combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (CLC type) were reviewed. Histochemistry was performed to confirm the type of mucin and immunohistochemical study was carried out for hepatocytic markers (Hep Par-1 and AFP) and biliary/HPCs markers (CK7, CK9, EMA, EpCAM, NCAM, CKIT).

RESULTSThe age of patients ranged from 51 to 82 years (mean 64 years). All 26 cases contained CLC and hepatocellular carcinoma components. CLC area was composed of mixtures of small monotonous glands with abundant fibrous stroma and lymphocytic infiltrate. Tumor cells were cuboidal, smaller in size than normal hepatocytes, with basophilic cytoplasm and round nuclei. All cases, especially at the tumor boundary, showed HCC-like trabecular areas characterized by mildly atypical tumor cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and little stroma. Out of 26 cases, 21 showed definite glandular formation with mucin production, representing intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma areas. The three distinct areas showed transitional zones merging with each other. The surrounding liver tissue showed cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis with varying degrees of fibrosis and periportal ductular reaction. Immunohistochemistry showed that biliary/HPC markers (CK7, CK9, EMA, EpCAM, NCAM and CKIT) were strongly positive in CLC area in almost all cases, similar to the staining pattern of ductular reaction. In HCC-like areas, CK7 and CK19 were positive in all cases and the expression rates of EMA, EpCAM, NCAM, CKIT, AFP, Hep Par-1 were 80.8% (21/26), 88.5% (23/26), 84.6% (22/26), 88.5% (23/26), 46.2% (12/26) and 53.8% (14/26) respectively, similar to the staining pattern of intermediate hepatocytes. In ICC areas, CK7, CK9, EMA and EpCAM were positive in all cases without the expression of NCAM and CKIT.

CONCLUSIONThe clinicopathologic findings and immunohistochemical results in this study highly suggest a hepatic progenitor cell origin of combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (CLC type).

Bile Duct Neoplasms ; pathology ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; pathology ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver Cirrhosis ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Mucins ; metabolism ; Stem Cells ; cytology

Objective To study the effect of acupuncture combined with clean intermittent catheterization in the treat-ment of neurogenic bladder. Methods A total of 46 patients were randomly divided into test and control groups. There were 23 patients in the each group. The clean intermittent catheterization only used in the control group. However inte-grated acupuncture and clean intermittent catheterization were used in the test group. Final the residual urine volume and the incidence of bacteriuria were researched after 5 months. Results There were 17 cases restored the micturating function in the test group, however only 7 cases in the control group. There were 3 cases suffered bacteriuria in the test group, but there were 11 cases suffered bacteriuria in the control group. The difference between the two groups was sta-tistical ly significantly (P<0.05). Conclusion Combined acupuncture with clean intermittent catheterization can effi-ciently maintain the normal function of bladder, decrease the residual urine volume, and reduce the incidence of bac-teriuria.