The relationship between probiotics and host intestinal immune system was reviewed. Then, as a new immunomodulator, the mechanisms and clinical uses of probiotics were discussed.

Objective To conduct cloning, sequencing and expression of Trichinella spiralis ES antigen p49 gene. Methods RT-PCR was used to amplify the specific gene fragment from the total RNA of Trichinella spirais larvae. The PCR product was ligated to the T-vector and the recombinant plasmid was verified by sequencing. T-p49 and pGE-4T-3 were treated by both BamHI and XhoI. The ligation reaction was catalyzed by T4 DNA ligase. Results The p49 gene was cloned by using RT-PCR. Sequence analysis showed that the p49 gene obtained was consistent to the p49 sequence reported in the database. The expressed protein was shown as a new band at SDS-PAGE. BLAST analysis demonstrated that this p49 gene was 99% identical to the p49 gene reported and to the 43 kDa secreted glycoprotein gene in the database. Conclusion p49 gene from Trichinella spiralis larvae was cloned, sequenced and expressed.

OBJECTIVETo compare efficacy and side effects of patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) with levobupivacaine, ropivacaine and racemic bupivacaine after cesarean section.

METHODSIn this prospective, randomized double-blind study, 90 ASA I-II full-term nulliparous women (aged 25-38 years with body weight of 59-87 kg) undergoing elective cesarean section under spinal-epidural anesthesia equally allocated into 3 groups. PCEA was administered with 0.125% levobupivacaine and 20 microg/ml morphine (group L, n=30), 0.125% ropivacaine and 20 microg/ml morphine (group R, n=30), and 0.125% bupivacaine and 20 microg/ml morphine (group B, n=30), respectively. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score, satisfaction rate, patients' overall impression of treatment, modified Bromage motor score, and incidence of side effects were recorded at regular intervals after operation.

RESULTSThe three groups were comparable with respect to the efficacy of analgesia, patients' overall impression of treatment, motor blockade and side effects. There was significant difference in patients' satisfaction rate between group R (70%) and the other two groups (93.3% in group L and 96.6% in group B, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONPCEA with 0.125% levobupivacaine and morphine 20 microg/ml produces better analgesic effect with little side effects after cesarean section.

Adult ; Amides ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Analgesia, Epidural ; Analgesia, Obstetrical ; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; Bupivacaine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; Cesarean Section ; Double-Blind Method ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Humans ; Morphine ; administration & dosage ; Nausea ; chemically induced ; Pregnancy ; Prospective Studies ; Pruritus ; chemically induced ; Treatment Outcome ; Vomiting ; chemically induced

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of flurbiprofen preemptive analgesia combined with intravenous propofol anesthesia in induced abortion.

METHODSTotally 175 women (ASA class I) undergoing induced abortion were randomized into 5 groups. In K10, K5, and K1 groups, the patients were given 50 mg flurbiprofen 10, 5 and 1 min before the operation, respectively, and in F group, 1 microg/kg of fentanyl was administered 10 min before the operation. All the 4 groups had intravenous induction with 2 mg/kg propofo1. The patients in P group received propofol at 2 mg/kg as the control group. The heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and SpO2 were monitored during the operation, and the induction time, recovery time, propofol dosage and adverse effect were recorded. The anesthetic effect of the protocols was assessed according to the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the overall patient satisfaction.

RESULTSHR, MAP, propofol consumption and the incidences of adverse effects during the operation were significantly higher in P group than in the other groups. F group had the highest incidence of respiratory depression among the 5 groups. The VAS in K10 group was significantly lower than that in K5 and K1 groups (P<0.05), but similar to that in F group (P>0.05). The overall patients' satisfaction was significantly higher than that in the other 4 groups.

CONCLUSIONFlurbiprofen preemptive analgesia combined with intravenous propofol is safe and effective for anesthesia during induced abortion.

Abortion, Induced ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Analgesics ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Anesthesia ; methods ; Anesthetics, Intravenous ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Flurbiprofen ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Propofol ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

In clinical research on complementary and integrative medicine, experts and scientists have often pursued a research agenda in spite of an incomplete understanding of the needs of end users. Consequently, the majority of previous clinical trials have mainly assessed the efficacy of interventions. Scant data is available on their effectiveness. Comparative effectiveness research (CER) promises to support decision makers by generating evidence that compares the benefits and harms of best care options. This evidence, more generalizable than evidence generated by traditional randomized clinical trials (RCTs), is better suited to inform real-world care decisions. An emphasis on CER supports the development of the evidence base for clinical and policy decision-making. Whereas in most areas of complementary and integrative medicine data on CER is scarce, available acupuncture research already contributes to CER evidence. This paper will introduce CER and make suggestions for future research.
Comparative Effectiveness Research ; Integrative Medicine ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Research Design

OBJECTIVETo analyze the genotype and phenotype correlation in the hemoglobin E (HbE) carriers, and to investigate the effect of HbE on hematological parameters.

METHODSThe capillary electrophoresis was used to screen total 14 141 samples and blood cell analysis was further processed to the HbE carrying samples. Gap-PCR and reverse dot blot hybridization method were used for the detection of Chinese common mutation of α and β thalassemia.

RESULTSThere is a statistical difference in hematological phenotype index (HGB, MCV, MCH, HbE, HbA(2)) between samples of HbE heterozygous (53 samples), HbE homozygous (2 samples), HbE composite α thalassemia (α-thal, 7 samples) and HbE composite β thalassemia (β-thal, 8 samples). Among the four groups, HbE heterozygous \[HGB (122.7 ± 19.99) g/L, MCV (78.65 ± 5.03) fl\] and HbE composite α-thal \[HGB (113.6 ± 22.68) g/L, MCV (73.50 ± 7.73) fl\] had slight effect on hematological parameters, but HbE composite β-thal \[HGB (76.4 ± 12.30) g/L\], MCV (59.23 ± 5.28) fl\] had the heaviest effect on hematological parameters.

CONCLUSIONCo-existence of HbE heterozygous and other type thalassemias showed variation in their hematological phenotype, so patients should be informed of genetics in prenatal diagnosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Genotype ; Hemoglobin E ; genetics ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phenotype ; Thalassemia ; blood ; genetics ; Young Adult

In clinical research on complementary and integrative medicine, experts and scientists have often pursued a research agenda in spite of an incomplete understanding of the needs of end users. Consequently, the majority of previous clinical trials have mainly assessed the efficacy of interventions. Scant data is available on their effectiveness. Comparative effectiveness research (CER) promises to support decision makers by generating evidence that compares the benefits and harms of the best care options. This evidence, more generalizable than the evidence generated by traditional randomized controlled trials (RCTs), is better suited to inform real-world care decisions. An emphasis on CER supports the development of the evidence base for clinical and policy decision-making. Whereas in most areas of complementary and integrative medicine data on comparative effectiveness is scarce, available acupuncture research already contributes to CER evidence. This paper will introduce CER and make suggestions for future research.
Comparative Effectiveness Research ; Decision Support Systems, Clinical ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

OBJECTIVETo assess the distribution frequency of Gly82Ser polymorphism of receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGR) gene and investigate its association with type 2 diabetic Chinese patients.

METHODSThe allele frequencies and genotype distribution of Gly82Ser polymorphism of RAGE gene were compared in a case-control study of 194 type 2 diabetic and 546 non-diabetic subjects. PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used for detection of the genotype variants.

RESULTSIn general Chinese population and type 2 diabetic Chinese patients, the most frequent genotype and allele of RAGR gene Gly82Ser polymorphism were genotype GG and allele G, whose frequency distribution were significantly higher than those in other countries (P<0.01). No significantly difference in the genotype frequencies or allele frequencies of Gly82Ser polymorphism were found between the diabetic patients and non-diabetic subjects (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONGly82Ser polymorphism of RAGE gene does not demonstrate any association with type 2 diabetes in Chinese patients, but high genotype and allele frequencies of Gly82Ser polymorphism occur in Chinese population and type 2 diabetic Chinese patients.

Aged ; Amino Acid Substitution ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; ethnology ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Glycine ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products ; Receptors, Immunologic ; genetics ; Serine ; genetics

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture on ghost points combined with Longdan Xiegan Decoction in the treatment of post-stroke insomnia of liver-fire disturbing the heart type.Methods Sixty patients with liver-fire disturbing the heart type of post-stroke insomnia were randomly divided into observation group and control group,with 30 patients in each group.The control group was given oral use of modified Longdan Xiegan Decoction,and the observation group was given acupuncture at the ghost points on the basis of the treatment of the control group.Both groups were treated for 4 weeks.After 1 month of treatment,the clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated,and the changes in the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)score and the Athens Insomnia Scale(AIS)score were observed before and after treatment in the two groups.The changes of Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS)scores were compared before and after treatment in the two groups of patients.Results(1)After treatment,the PSQI scores of the two groups of patients were significantly improved(P＜0.05),and the observation group was significantly superior to the control group in improving the PSQI scores,with a statistically significant difference(P＜0.05).(2)After treatment,the AIS scores of patients in the two groups were significantly improved(P＜0.05),and the observation group was significantly superior to the control group in improving the AIS scores,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).(3)After treatment,the SDS scores of patients in the two groups were significantly improved(P＜0.05),and the observation group was significantly superior to the control group in improving SDS scores,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).(4)The total effective rate of the observation group was 86.66%(26/30),while that of the control group was 76.66%(23/30).The efficacy of the observation group was superior to that of the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture at the ghost points combined with Longdan Xiegan Decoction for the treatment of liver-fire disturbing the heart type of post-stroke insomnia can significantly improve the clinical symptoms of the patients,and the therapeutic effect is remarkable.

OBJECTIVETo determine the bioinformatical characteristics of differential gene expression in patients with chronic superficial gastritis (CSG) with the Pi-deficiency syndrome (PDS) and those of the non-Pi-deficiency syndrome (non-PDS), i.e. patients of CSG with Pi-Wei dampnese-heat syndrome and healthy persons.

METHODSWith the BRB-Array Tools software package, original data collection and bioinformatic: analysis of gene arrays were conducted in 6 CSG patients of PDS (CSG-PDS), 6 CSG patients of non-PDS (CSG-nPDS), and 6 healthy volunteers (Normal).

RESULTSCompared with non-PDS, the gene expressions: in PDS with regards to protein synthesis, energy metabolism, immune reaction and ionic transport tended to be down-regulated, while those concerning secretion, cytoskeleton and ubiquitinization were up-regulated dominantly.

CONCLUSIONSThe two kinds of samples, CSG-PDS/Normal and CSG-PDS/CSG-nPDS, have their respective gene expression profiles with different characteristics. Gene expression profile has certain referential significance in syndrome classification.

Chronic Disease ; Cluster Analysis ; Computational Biology ; Gastritis ; genetics ; Humans ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Syndrome