Objective To investigate the expression of membrane CD14 (mCD14), Toll-like receptor (TLR4) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) in peripheral blood ieukocytes from patients with psoriasis vulgaris (PV). Methods Blood samples were obtained from 29 normal controls and 32 patients with PV. Patient cohort consisted of 19 males and 13 females, with an average age of 30.28 ±13.11 years, disease duration of 8.21±10.21 years, and PASI score of 21.19±5.85. Flow cytometry was used to measure the expression of mCD14, TLR4 and activated NF-kB in peripheral blood leukocytes in these subjects. Results The expressions of mCD14 and TLR4 in peripheral blood leukocytes were significantly higher in patients than in the normal controls (5.454±2.78 vs 3.937±1.964, P < 0.05; 17.641±18.120 vs 7.527±8.574, P <0.01 ). Although the expression of activated NF-kB in total blood leukocytes in patients was higher than that in normal controls, no statistical difference was noticed (63.538±8.650 vs 62.236±6.72, P > 0.05). Conclusion There is an abnormal expression of mCD14 and TLR4 in patients with PV, suggesting that the abnormal activation of endotoxin signal transduction pathway may exert a role in the induction of psoriasis.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of heat-sensitive point thunder-fire moxibustion in treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods One hundred and forty-eight KOA patients were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 74 cases each. The treatment group received heat-sensitive point thunder-fire moxibustion and the control group took diclofenac sodium enteric-coated tablets. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score and 50 yards fastest walking time were observed in the two groups before and after 30 days of treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups. Results There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in the VAS score and WOMAC subscores in the two groups (P<0.01). There was a statistically significant pre-/post-treatment difference in 50 yards fastest walking time in the treatment group (P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in the VAS score, the WOMAC score and the WOMAC pain and stiffness scores between the treatment and control groups (P<0.01). There were statistically significant differences in the VAS and WOMAC scores at three months after treatment between the treatment and control groups (P<0.01). The total efficacy rate was 95.9%at the end of treatment and 95.6%at three months after treatment in the treatment group, and 86.1%at the end of treatment and 86.8%at three months after treatment in the control group; there were statistically significant differences between the two groups (P<0.05). Conclusion Heat-sensitive point thunder-fire moxibustion is an effective way to treat knee osteoarthritis.