Objective:To observe the clinical effect of fire-needle therapy plus tuina manipulations for ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
Methods:A total of 49 eligible cases were treated by fire-needle therapy plus tuina manipulations, once every other day. Ten days made one course. After the continuous treatment for six courses, the therapeutic effects were summarized and the changes in the clinical symptoms and signs were observed.
Results:During treatment, 7 cases dropped off. In 42 patients who had completed treatment for six courses, the results showed clinical recovery in 16 cases, remarkable effect in 13 cases, effect in 7 cases and failure in 6 cases. The measurements of the patients were all improved in different degrees than those before treatment. Moreover, no side effect was noticed during treatment.
Conclusion:The therapeutic effect is precise and free of adverse reaction in treatment of AS by fire-needle therapy plus tuina manipulations.

Objective: To observe the therapeutic efficacy of fire-needle therapy plus tuina in treating primary knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in the elderly.
Methods: Twenty-three patients with KOA were intervened by pricking with fire-needle therapy plus tuina, and evaluated by using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) before and after intervention.
Results: After intervention, the total score, scores of pain, rigidity, and activities of daily living of WOMAC dropped significantly (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Pricking with fire needle plus tuina can produce a significant therapeutic efficacy in treating KOA in the elderly, thus worth application in clinic.

Epilepsy is a group of chronic diseases characterized by recurrent and transient brain dysfunction induced by abrupt and intermittent abnormal discharge of neurons in the brain, which is difficult to be cured. Thee auricular concha are is he zone of visera in TCM auricular points, but also the innervating area of the auricular brach of the vagus nerve. Auricular acupuncture, as a special treatment, has superior therapeutic effect for epilepsy. In recent years, remarkable progress has been made in the theoretical basis and clinic application of auricular acupuncture for epilepsy, and the ear-vagus percutaneous electrical stimulation apparatus (auricular acupuncture apparatus) is developed for clinical trial researches. From the basic study to clinical research of auricular acupuncture for epilepsy, the epilepsy pathogenesis as well as the intervention pathway and clinical efficacy of auricular: experimental support and rich clinical experience for auricular acupuncture apparatus.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture, Ear ; instrumentation ; methods ; Ear ; innervation ; Epilepsy ; therapy ; Humans

Objective To investigate the differential expression of secretory aspartyl proteinase in patients with vaginal C.albicans infection and in asymptomatic candidal carriers.Methods Secretory aspartyl proteinase expression was determined with reverse transcription-PCR in vaginal specimens taken from 10 asymptomatic candidal carriers,14 patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and 10 patients with recurrent VVC (RVVC).Results SAP2 and SAP4 to SAP6 subfamily were detected in both candidal carriers and patients with vaginal candidiasis.SAP1 and SAP3 transcripts were not observed in 10 asymptomatic candidal carriers.All 9 SAP genes were differently expressed in VVC and RVVC patients.SAP1 and SAP3 transcripts were frequently amplified in some patients.Conclusion It is shown that C.albicans infection is associated with differential expression of individual SAP genes,which may be involved in the pathogenesis of vaginal candidiasis.

Objective To investigate the kinetic expression level of chemokines (MCP-1 and MIP-2) in vagina of a murine model of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC).Methods The estrogen-treated murine model of VVC was set up.Vaginal specimens were obtained in different duration after inoculation of C.albicans intravaginally.Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was applied to determine MCP-1 and MIP-2 mRNA levels in these tissues.Results Compared with the control mice treated with olive oil,persistent growth of C.albicans was found from the 2nd day to 21st day after inoculation in estrogen-treated mice.Significantly higher levels of MCP-1 mRNA were observed in vaginal tissues in infected estrogen-treated mice than those in other 2 groups,infected but non estrogen-treated mice and estrogen-treated but uninfected mice.The high level of MCP-1 mRNA maintained from the 4th day to 21st day in infected estrogen-treated mice.It was also found that levels of MIP-2 mRNA were significantly higher in the vagina in the 2nd day in 3 groups of mice than those in naive mice,however,no significant difference was shown among 3 groups throughout the study period.Conclusion High level of MCP-1,rather than MIP-2,may be associated with susceptibility to VVC.

Objective To investigate the species and DNA polymorphism of Candida strains from different individuals and to find the relationship between the species or DNA patterns of strains and different patient groups. Methods The present study chose the isolates from 3 different sources groups(from the patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis, recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis or asymptomatic carriers respectively). Germ tube test, chlamydospore test, CHROMagar Candida and API20 kit system were applied to separate non-Candida albicans strains from Candida albicans. Random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was used to study DNA typing of 97 strains of Candida collected from different patients and to determine whether isolates from different patients were genetically similar or dissimilar. The data were analyzed by SPSS10.0. Results The ninety-seven isolates consisted of 83 strains of Candida albicans and 14 of non-Candida albicans. Of 9 random primers used, two primers (primer 4 and primer 7) gave good reactions, the sequences of which were 5′-ACCCGACCTG-3′, 5′-GGTGACGCAG-3′ respectively. The 99 isolates could be classified into 19 and 21 genotypes by the two primers respectively. Different genotype was not shown in most isolates from different groups. A particular genotype associated with different conditions was seen in only a few isolates. Conclusion Candida albicans is the main pathogenic yeasts and most strains of non-Candida albicans are C.glabrata in the vulvovaginal candidiasis. Genotyping of most isolates didn′t show obvious correlation with different patient groups.

Objective To investigate the effect on electrical restitution of β1-adrenergic receptor antagonist esmolol administered during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the porcine ventricular fibrillation model. Method Ventricular fibrillation untreated for four minutes was induced by dynamic steady state pacing protocol in 40 healthy male pigs, in which local unipolar electrograms were recorded using one 10-electrode catheter that was sutured to the left ventrieular epicarditan. During CPR, animals were randomized into two groups to receive saline as placebo or esmolol after two standards doses of epinephrine. At postresuscitation 2-hour, six pigs were randomly selected from each group and the second VF induction was performed. Local activation-recovery intervals (ARI) restitutions and the VF inducibility between control group and esmolol group were compared. Western blotting was performed to determine cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2) protein expression, and their phosphorylation status. Results No sig-nificant differences were observed at the restoration of spontaneous circulation between two groups. Higher postre-suseitation 2-hour survival rate was observed in the esmolol group. Esmolol significantly flattened ARI restitution slope, lessened regional difference of ARI restitution, decreased the VF inducibility, and alleviated RyR2 hyper-phosphorylation. Conclusions Esmolol given during CPR significantly improved postresuscitation 2-hour survival rate. Its effects on modulating electrical restitution property and intracellular calcium handling make up the most important reasons why β1-blockade significantly reduced the onset and maintenance of VF.

Objective To describe the CSP genotypic profile in clinical isolates of Aspergillus fumigates from different regions of China,and to investigate if there is a difference in antifungal susceptibility among A.fumigates of different CSP genotypes and from different regions.Methods Totally,112 A.fumigates strains clinically isolated from Fujian,Shanghai,Hebei and Beijing were included in this study,and identified according to macro-and micro-morphological characters,growth temperature and β-tubulin sequence.Classic A.fumigatus strains were typed according to CSP gene sequence.The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of voriconazole,itraconazole and amphotericin B to A.fumigates were determined in accordance with the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) M38-A protocol.Results All the strains were identified as classic A.fumigates,and fall into 11 CSP genotypes.The most common genotypes were t04A (n =32),t03 (n =17) and t01 (n =24) in all the strains,tl0,t04A and t01 in Fujian,t04A and t01 in Shanghai,t01,t03 and t04A in Hebei,t02,t04A,t01and t03 in Beijing.One A.fumigatus strain was identified as a new CSP type t25 in Fujian,which showed no obvious difference in morphology,growth rate or appropriate growth temperature from the other CSP genotypes of A.fumigatus strains.No statistical difference was found in the susceptibility to amphotericin B,itraconazole or fluconazole among different genotypes of A.fumigates,whereas the MICs of itraconazole were significantly lower in A.fumigates isolates from Fujian than in those from the other three regions.Conclusions The CSP genotypic profile of A.fumigates varies in clinical isolates from different regions.No significant difference is observed in the susceptibility to amphotericin B,itraconazole or fluconazole among different CSP genotypes of A.fumigates,but the susceptibility to itraconazole is somewhat different between A.fumigates strains from different regions.

Objective To evaluate the role of adiponectin (ADP) and adiponectin receptor-1(ADPR1) in limb ischemic precondi-tioning(LIPC) against apoptosis after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury(MIRI) .Methods SD rats were divided into 3 groups (n=10 ,4 rats of every group were prepared for detecting apoptosis ) .Group sham (group in sham operated) were processed identi-cally except the left coronary artery was not be ligated ;group MIRI (group in ischemia reperfusion) were subjected to occlusion of the left coronary artery anterior descending (LAD) followed by reperfusion ,occlusion for 30 min and reperfusion for 120 min;group LIPC (group in limb ischemic preconditioning) were subjected to ischemia and reperfusion on the left hind limb for 5 min in turn for 3 d .LAD were performed ischemia for 30 min and reperfusion for 120 min at the 4th day .The expression of the level of myocardial ADP and ADPR1 mRNA of group sham ,group MIRI and group LIPC were determined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) .The apoptosis index of every group were determined by mothod of terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase medi-ated nick end labeling(TUNEL)respectively .Results Compared with group sham ,the expression of ADP and ADPR1 mRNA in group MIRI lessened apparently (P<0 .05);compared with group MIRI ,the expression of ADP and ADPR1 mRNA in group LIPC increased statistically significant(P<0 .05);compared with group sham ,the apoptosis index(AI) of myocardial cells in group MIRI increased apparently(P<0 .05);compared with group MIRI ,the AI of myocardial cells in group LIPC decreased significantly (P<0 .05) .Conclusion Limb ischemic preconditioning ;decreased apoptosis after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury via activating ADP signaling pathways ,which played a protective role in myocardial tissue .

Acupoints are surface reaction and treatment spots under the pathological conditions which have functions of diagnosis and treatment. For the study of acupoints, we can carry it out from the aspects of structure and function. The two aspects have a close relationship. Structure is the material basis of function, while function is the manifesta-tion of structure. Therefore, the study of acupoints is not only significant to reveal the essence of acupoint, but also has enormous value in the guidance of acu-moxibustion for clinical practice. Staring from the normality of structure and variability of function, we explored the essence of acupoints, and further revealed ordered regulation rule and its biological basis, so that the essence of acupuncture points will be illustrated with scientific evidences.