Acne is divided into the patterns of wind and heat in the lung meridian and accumulation of dampness and heat. Forty cases of acne were treated by acupuncture plus herbal drugs (acupuncture and drug group, A) and 30 cases were treated by simple acupuncture as the control group (acupuncture group, B). The results showed basic cure in 31 cases, remarkable effect in 5 cases, effect in 3 cases, failure in 1 case and the total effective rate of 97.5% in Group A, and basic cure in 16 cases, remarkable effect in 6 cases, effect in 3 cases, failure in 5 cases and the total effective rate of 83.3% in Group B. There was no significant difference ( P > 0.05 ) in the therapeutic effect and there was a significant difference (P < 0. 01 ) in the curative rate in the two groups. The therapeutic effect was obviously better in Group A than in Group B.

OBJECTIVE:To establish a method for the contents determination of phospholipid and γ-linolenic acid in Com-pound linolenic acid soft capsule. METHODS:HPLC was conducted to determine the content of soybean lecithin;the column was Agilent TC-C18 with mobile phase of methanol-water(84:16,V/V)at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min,the detection wavelength was 219 nm,the column temperature was 30 ℃,and the injection volume was 10 μl.Gas chromatography was conducted to determine the content of γ-linolenic acid in the preparation;the column was DB WAX,injector temperature was 210 ℃ by temperature pro-grammed,carrier gas was helium at a flow rate of 1 ml/min by split injection(split ratio of 1:30),and the injection volume was 0.02μl. RESULTS:The linear range was 4.64-16.24μg/ml for phospholipid(r=0.999 6)and 0.093 44-0.327 04μg/ml forγ-linole-nic acid methy ester(r=0.999 6);RSDs of precision,stability and reproducibility tests were lower than 3%;recoveries were 97.44%-99.36%(RSD=0.93%,n=6) and 97.22%-99.07%(RSD=1.01%,n=6),respectively. CONCLUSIONS:The method is simple,stable with good separation,and can be use for the contents determination of phospholipid and γ-linolenic acid in Com-pound linolenic acid soft capsule.

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of deep insertion at Tianshu(ST 25)for colonic slow transit constipation(STC).Methods:120 cases of STC patients were randomly divided,60 cases in a deep insertion group,30 cases in an electroacupuncture group and 30 cases in a medication group by 2:1:1 ratio.The deep insertion group was treated with deep insertion at Tianshu(ST 25).The electroacupuncture group was treated with routine insertion at Tianshu(ST 25).The medication group was treated with oral administration of Lactulose oral liquid.The first voluntary defecation time,and constipation scores before the treatment,four weeks after the treatment and relevant scores of clinical symptoms were assessed in the three groups of the patients.Results:The scores of the clinical symptoms in improvement of constipation were better in the deep insertion group than in the electroacupuncture group and medication group,with differences in statistical significance(P<0.01).The unsuccessful numbers in the improvement of defecation and abdominal pain were also better in the deep insertion group than in the other two groups,and better in instant effect in the deep insertion.Conclusion:The improvement of STC clinical symptoms was better by deep insertion at Tianshu(ST 25)than by medication and routine acupuncture method at Tianshu(ST 25).

Objective This study aimed to investigate whether the copy numbers of the CCL3L1 (Chemokine C-C-Motif Ligand 3 Like Protein 1) gene were associated with susceptibility to ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods A total of 806 Chinese individuals including 405 AS patients and 401 healthy controls were enrolled. The CCL3L1 gene copy number was measured by a custom-by-design Multiplex AccuCopyTM Kit based on a multiplex fluorescence competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) principle, and 50 samples were randomly selected using the fluorescent quantitative PCR method to verify copy number. Main statistical method was t test, chi-square test and logistic regression model. Results There were no statistically significant differences between the case group and control group in age and gender ( t=1.77, P=0.076, χ2=1.14, P=0.289). The copy number of CCL3L1 gene ranged from 0 to 13 in both AS patients and the controls. After copy numbers were classified into 3 categories by 3, we did not find significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=0.591, P=0.669). And regression analyses also did not support the hypothesis that CCL3L1 gene copy number variation (CNV) could be an impact factor to the severity or function indexes of AS patients ( χ2=0.341, P=0.804 and χ2=0.472, P=0.774, respectively). Conclusion We suggest that the copy number of the CCL3L1 gene does not have a role in the susceptibility and the severity or function to AS.

Objective:To compare the biomechanical properties of different circular external fixators for the fracture site of oblique long bone fractures.Methods:15 polyethylene (PE) plastic rods with the same batch were selected to make the model of oblique fractures in the middle of long bones. According to the connection between PE rods and external fixators, the PE rods were randomly divided into: the group that was simply used kirschner wires (group kirschner wires), the group that was simply used olive wires (group olive wires), the group that was simply inserted half pins (group half pins), the group that was inserted single cortical fixed half pins at either side of the fracture site after being fixed by the tensioned olive wires (group olive wires+ half pin), the group that was inserted tensioned trans-fracture olive wires after being fixed by the tensioned olive wires (group olive wires+ olive wires). The axial compression tests were carried out, and the interfragmentary displacements under axial loads of 200 N, 400 N, 600 N and 800 N were measured and the axial stiffness was calculated. Then, the torsional tests were carried out, and the interfragmentary torsional angles were measured under torsional loads of 4 N·m, 7 N·m and 10 N·m, and the torsional stiffness was calculated.Results:With the increase of axial load from 200 N to 800 N, the axial interfragmentary displacement in each group gradually increased. The interfragmentary axial displacement of each group in ascending order was: group olive wires+ olive wires, group olive wires+ half pins, group half pins, group olive wires, group kirschner wires. The axial stiffness of each configuration under 800 N axial load in descending order was: group olive wires+ olive wires [863.93 (824.32, 875.87) N/mm], group olive wires+ half pins [119.92 (113.16, 123.58) N/mm], group half pins [81.92(79.42, 82.40) N/mm], group olive wires [76.83 (72.45,79.47) N/mm], group kirschner wires [70.80 (67.49, 71.59) N/mm]. The pairwise comparisons of the axial stiffness data of each configuration had statistical significance (all P <0.05). With the increase of the torque load from 4 N·m to 10 N·m, the interfragmentary rotational angle in each configuration gradually increased. The interfragmentary torsion angle of each group in ascending order was: group half pins, group olive wires+ olive wires, group olive wires+ half pins, group olive wires, group kirschner wires. The torsional rigidity of each configuration under 10 N·m torsional load in descending order was: group half pins [1.80 (1.63, 1.85) N·m/°], group olive wires+ olive wires [1.05 (1.02, 1.07) N·m/°], group olive wires+ half pins [0.99 (0.98, 1.03) N·m/°], group olive wires [0.81 (0.78, 0.82) N·m/°], group kirschner wires [0.75 (0.74, 0.76) N·m/°]. The pairwise comparisons of the torsional rigidity data of each configuration had statistical significance (all P < 0.05). Conclusion:The axial stiffness and torsional stiffness of circular external fixators can be increased by using tensioned olive wires or half pins at the fracture site. Due to the insufficient support between oblique fracture site, when the load is applied, the axial displacement and torsion angle of the fracture site will still be fairly large after being fixed the fracture site with half pins. Treating with tensioned trans-fracture olive wires after being fixed by the tensioned olive wires at either side of the fracture site can effectively control the interfragmentary shear and displacement, thus providing an ideal mechanical environment for fracture healing.

OBJECTIVETo generate a mouse model of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection by performing in vivo transduction of hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular (ccc)DNA.

METHODSNude mice were injected with HBV cccDNA at doses of 1.5, 1.0 or 0.5 mug/ml. A control group was generated by giving equal injection volumes of physiological saline. The serum levels of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) on post-injection days 1 and 3, weeks 1-6, 8 and 10 were assayed by reflection immunoassay. At post-injection week 10, all animals were sacrificed and liver tissues were collected. Copies of HBV DNA in serum and liver tissue were detected by real-time PCR. HBV antigens in liver tissue were detected of by immunohistochemistry. Pathological analysis of liver tissue carried out with hematoxylin-eosin staining. Linear correlation of data was determined by statistical analysis.

RESULTSHBsAg and HBeAg were detected in sera from all three groups of cccDNA-injected mice staring at post-injection day 1 and lasting through week 10. The levels of HBsAg over the 10-week period showed two patterns of increase-decrease;the lowest level was detected at week 4 and the highest level was detected at week 8. In contrast, the levels of HBeAg over the 10-week period showed three patterns of increase-decrease; the lower levels were detected at weeks 2 and 4 and the higher levels at weeks 3 and 6. HBV DNA copies in liver tissues showed a cccDNA dose-dependent descending trend over the 10-week study period (1.5 mug/ml:1.14E+07 ± 6.51E+06 copies/g, 1.0 mug/ml:9.81E+06 ± 9.32E+06 copies/g, and 0.5 mug/ml:3.72E+06 ± 2.35E+06 copies/g; Pearson's r =0.979). HBV DNA copies in sera showed the pattern of 1.0 mug/ml cccDNA more than 1.5 mug/ml cccDNA more than 0.5 mug/ml cccDNA, and in general were higher than those detected in the liver tissues. Liver tissues from all cccDNA-injected mice showed positive immunohistochemistry staining for both HBsAg and HBeAg. HE staining showed that the liver tissues of all cccDNA-injected mice had severe fatty and vacuolar degeneration and less obvious structure of liver lobules (compared to the liver tissues from control mice).

CONCLUSIONThe CHB mouse model successfully established in this study by in vivo transduction of HBV cccDNA may represent a useful tool to study the pathogenic mechanisms and potential antiviral treatments of human CHB.

Animals ; DNA, Circular ; administration & dosage ; DNA, Viral ; administration & dosage ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; physiology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; virology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Transduction, Genetic ; Virus Replication