Objective To assess the clinical efficacy of acupuncture at the sphenopalatine ganglion for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis.Methods 42 cases of moderate to severe allergic rhinitis patients in Otorhinolaryngology clinic of Tongren Hospital between August 2012 to November 2013 were randomized into a treatment group and a control group. The treatment group was treated by acupuncturing sphenopalatine ganglion, once per week, altogether 4 times. The control group was treated by acupuncturingFengchi(GB20),Baihui(GV20),Yingxiang(GV29),Shangxing(GV23),Taiyang(EX-HN5), Quchi(LI11) andZusanli (ST36) was used in the control group, 3 times per week for 4 weeks. The changes of the Total Nasal Symptoms Score (TNSS) and the Total Non-Nasal Symptom Score (TNNSS) were evaluated before and after treatment. The Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) was used to evaluate the quality of life.Results One week after treatment, the scores of TNSS, TNNSS and RQLQ in both groups were significantly improved than before the treatment (treatment group: 5.0[4.0, 6.0]vs. 9.0[7.0, 10.0], 1.0[1.0, 1.5]vs. 3.0[3.0, 3.0], 44.0[35.5, 50.0]vs. 60.0[53.5,75.0]; control group: 6.0[5.5, 8.0]vs. 10.0[8.5, 10.1], 2.0[2.0, 3.0]vs. 3.00[3.0, 3.0], 50.0[45.5, 58.0]vs.43.0[27.0, 48.0]; allP<0.01); the scores of TNSS, TNNSS and RQLQ 1 week after treatment in the treatment group were significantly improved than those in the control group. The scores of TNSS(2.0[1.0, 3.0]vs. 3.0[2.0, 4.5]), TNNSS(1.0[0.0, 1.0]vs.2.0[2.0, 3.0]) and RQLQ(24.0[19.0, 29.0]vs. 43.0[27.0, 48.5])4 week after treatment in the treatment group were significantly improved than those in the control group(allP<0.01).Conclusions Acupuncture at the sphenopalatine ganglion could relieve the symptoms and improve the quality of life in patients with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis, and show more rapid and persistent therapeutic effect. It may be superior to the common acupuncture.

Objective To investigate the role of chemokine CXC-ligand 16 (CXCL16) in renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in the mice.Methods Twelve healthy male C57BL/6 mice and 12 CXCL16-knockout (CXCL16-KO) mice,aged 8-10 weeks,weighing 20-30 g,were studied.The 12 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=6 each) using a random number table:C57BL/6 sham operation group (group C-S) and C57BL/6 I/R group (group C-I/R).The 12 CXCL16-KO mice were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=6 each) using a random number table:CXCL16-KO sham operation group (group KO-S) and CXCL16-KO I/R group (group KO-I/R).The right kidney was removed,and the left kidney was exposed,and the renal artery was then clamped for 45 min with atraumatic microclips followed by 24 h reperfusion to establish the model of renal I/R in anesthetized mice.Venous blood samples were taken at 24 h of reperfusion for determination of the serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) concentrations.The renal specimens were obtained at 24 h of reperfusion for microscopic examination of the pathological changes,and the damage to the renal tubules was scored.The number of myeloperoxidase (MPO) positive cells (MPO+ cells),F4/80+ cells and CD3+ cells in renal tissues was counted by immunohistochemistry.The expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α),interleukin-1beta (IL-1β),IL-6,and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) mRNA in renal tissues was determined by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.Results Compared with group C-S,the serum BUN and Cr concentrations,renal tubular damage score,and the number of MPO+,F4/80+,and CD3+ cells were significantly increased,and the expression of TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6 and MIP-2 mRNA was significantly up-regulated in group C-I/R (P＜0.05).Compared with group KO-S,the serum BUN and Cr concentrations,renal tubular damage score,and the number of MPO+,F4/80+,and CD3+ cells were significantly increased,and the expression of TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6 and MIP-2 mRNA was significantly up-regulated in group KO-I/R (P＜0.05).Compared with group C-I/R,the serum BUN and Cr concentrations,renal tubular damage score,and the number of MPO+,F4/80+,and CD3+ cells were significantly decreased,and the expression of TNF-c,IL-1β,IL-6 and MIP-2 mRNA was significantly down-regulated in group KO-I/R (P＜0.05).Conclusion CXCL16 is involved in the pathophysiological process of renal I/R injury in the mice.

Objective　To ascertain the natural infection rate of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome virus (HFRSV) among its hosts and the type of the natural foci for providing some baseline data for the immigrant health and epidemic prevention of the Three-Gorge region. Methods　Epidemiological survey on the field was performed including epidemiological data collection, ecology of rodents and pathogen detection. HFRS virus antigen of hosts were detected by the direct immunofluorescent assay (DIFA) technique and determination of HFRSV-RNA by ISH were carried out from HFRSV-Ag-positive animals. Results　HFRSV-Ag-positive animals were found in 5 migration areas ie Baitao Town of Fuling Section, Wansheng Village of Fengjie County and Dachang Town of Wushan County. The positive hosts were as follows, Rattus Norvegicus, Apodemus agrarius, Anourusurex squamipes, Mus musculus and Rattus flavipectus. The positive rate of HFRSV in the mice of 5 migration areas were 19.4%, 17.0%, 14.0%, 13.7%, and 8.5% respectively. The results showed that the lung tissues of some hosts in all five migration areas were HFRSV-RNA-positive. Baitao Town and Peishi Town were attributed to mixture type epidemic areas while. Kangle Town, Wansheng Village and Dachang Town were domestic rats type epidemic areas. Conclusion　This study shows that the five migration areas are natural epidemic foci of HFRS. It is predicted that maximum risk of HFRS breakout or epidemic may take place after the completion of the San Xia Reservoir(the Three-Gorges Reservoir), which results from rodent moving toward higher land. Therefore, deratization and preventive measures for rat are important in migration areas.