OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy differences between dog-days medicinal vesiculation and regular-day medicinal vesiculation for perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR), and observe their effects on serum immune globulin E (IgE) and interleukin-4 (IL-4).

METHODSSeventy-two patients were randomly divided into a dog-days moxibustion group (34 cases) and a regular-day moxibustion group (38 cases). In the dog-days moxibustion group, medicinal vesiculation was applied on the 1st dog-day, 2nd dog-day and last dog-day in summer by lunar calendar, 3 treatments per dog-day for totally 9 times. In the regular-day moxibustion group, the moxibustion was given on the regular day for continuous 9 times. The symptom score, rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) and the level of IgE and IL-4 were compared before and after treatment in two groups; the short-term and two-year efficacy evaluation were performed too.

RESULTSThe short-term total effective rate was 88.2% (30/34) in the dog-days moxibustion group, which was not significantly different to 86.8% (33/38) in the regular-day moxibustion group (P>0.05). The long-term total effective rate was 97.1% (33/34) in the dog-days moxibustion group, which was significantly superior to 81.6% (31/38) in the regular-day moxibustion group (P<0.05). After treatment, the serum IgE, IL-4 and RQLQ were significantly reduced (all P<0.01), but the difference between two groups was not significant (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONMedicinal moxibustion could be taken as a regular treatment for PAR, which could be performed during the whole year, and dog-days moxibustion could be considered as an enhanced method for prevention and treatment of PAR.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Juvenile ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Injections, Intra-Articular

Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of ginsenoside Rg3 on herpes simplex virus(type 1(HSV-1) in vitro and) its immunoregulative effect.Methods Crystal violet staining was used to observe the inhibitory effect of Rg3 on the cytopathic effect caused by HSV-1.MTT colorimetry was used to detect the influence of Rg3 on the proliferation of Vero cells and mouse splenocytes.The mouse splenocytes were induced with Rg3,and the activity of IL-2 was detected by lymphoblast proliferation assay and IFN-? by cytopathic effect inhibition.(Results The) A_(570) values of cytopathic effect in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group when doses of Rg3 were 1.56-25 mg?L~(-1) in vitro(P0.05).The secretary levels of IL-2 and IFN-? in experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group in vitro when doses of Rg3 were(3.13-6.25)mg?L~(-1) (P

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is characterized by serous detachment of the sensory retina as a consequence of the focal leakage of fluid from the choriocapillaries to subretinal space through a defect of the retinal pigment epithelium(RPE). The exact cause of CSC is not well unknown. Psychological stress is thought to contribute to CSC, but the physiologic mechanisms are unclear. It is hypothesized that psychological stress can induce CSC through the mechanism of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system. Psychological stress can adversely affect HPA axis and causes glucocorticoid levels to elevate. Increased glucocorticoids constrict choroid vessels, which leads to ischemia of choroids and damage vascular endothelial cells, thus causing vasopermeability to increase. RPE dysfunction will occur as a result of abnormalities in the choroidal circulation. The large molecules including protein may enter the subretinal space through the damaged vessels and RPE.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cardia ; Enteral Nutrition ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Intubation, Gastrointestinal ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery ; Time Factors

Objective To investigate the impact of alterations within the space of Disse micro- environment on the migration of hepatic stellate cells(HSC) during the process of liver fibrosis,and to ex plore the novel mechanism of liver fibrosis from the view of cell migration.Methods A modified in vitro Boyden chamber system to partially mimic in vivo microenvironment of Disse space of normal and liver fibrosis was employed.The effects of fibrogenetic growth factors on the migration of HSC in liver fibrosis were observed via cell migration and cell proliferation experiments.Results Enhanced platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF)-BB,transforming growth factor(TGF)-?1 and/or epithelial growth factor(EGF) in liver fibrosis resulted in an increase in migratory capacity of activated HSC.The enhanced migration of HSCs induced by PDGF-BB was partially associated with their increased proliferation,while,TGF-?1 or EGF-induced migration was proliferation independent.The elevation of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) or vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)during liver fibrosis had no effect on the migration of HSCs.Conclusions The study provides valuable insights into the role of space of Disse microenvironment in regulating HSC migratory behavior.TGF-?1,PDGF-BB and EGF,which increased in liver fibrosis, could induce the migration of activated HSC.However,bFGF or VEGF has no such kind of effect,al- though they also increased during liver fibrosis.

Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory ; Heart Atria ; pathology ; Humans ; Tachycardia, Ectopic Atrial ; diagnosis

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials ; Glutamic Acid ; physiology ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; Neurons ; cytology ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the effects of Sangju Qingjie Decoction on the ventilator-induced lung injury in rats.Methods Thirty-six healthy male SD rats of both sexes,weighing 300-350 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups(n =12 each):control group(group C); mechanical ventilation group(group V)and Sangju Qingjie Decoction group(group SJ).The animals were anesthetized with intraperitoneal 3％ urethane 1.4 g/kg and tracheostomized.The femoral artery and vein were cannulated for blood sampling and drug administration.The animals were mechanically ventilated for 2.5 h(VT =40 ml/kg,RR 40 bpm,I:E =1:1,FiO2 21％).Ingroup SJ,Sangju Qingjie Decoction 300 g was injected into the stomach through a gastric tube once a day for 10 consecutive days,and mechanical ventilation was performed 2 h after the last injection.While in groups V and C,the equal volume of normal saline was given instead of Sangju Qingjie Decoction.Arterial blood samples were collected before ventilation,at the end of ventilation,and at 30 min after ventilation(T0-2)for blood gas analysis.Respiratory index(RI)and oxygenation index(OI)were calculated.The animals were then sacrificed and the lungs were removed for microscopic examination and determination of the content of TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-10 and W/D lung weight ratio.Results Compared with group C,RI at T1,2,the content of TNF-o,IL-6 and IL-10 and W/D ratio were significantly increased,and OI was significantly decreased at T1.2 in groups V and SJ(P ＜ 0.05).Compared with group V,RI at T1,2,the content of TNF-α and IL-6 and W/D ratio were significantly decreased,and OI at T1,2 and the content of IL-10 were significantly increased in group SJ(P ＜ 0.05).The pathological damage was attenuated in group SJ compared with group V.Conclusion Sangju Qingjie Decoction can attenuate the ventilator-induced lung injury through inhibition of inflammatory response in rats.

4 weeks of arrested embryos.The AAH expression was found to have the similar result as HIF-1?'s.Conclusions The expression level of HIF-1? and AAH in villi of missed abortion patients is much lower than that of normal early pregnant women.HIF-1? and AAH have a function of supporting normal pregnancy,so their low expression may be an important cause of missed abortion.