Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of contracted pelvic outlet syndrome. Methods: Fifty subjects were randomized in visit sequence into two groups; treatment group in which 27 cases were treated by anatomical needling at Ashi points and control group in which 23 cases were treated by electroacupuncture at Ashi points, Chengfu (BL 50), Chengshan (BL 57) and Yanglingquan (GB 34); the treatment was given once a day and 5 treatments made up one course; the clinical efficacy was observed after 1-2 courses. Results: The first pain-easing effects and clinical efficacy were better in treatment group than in control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Anatomical acupuncture has more advantages over electroacupuncture in the treatment of contracted pelvic outlet syndrome.

This article summarizes recent years’ advances in the study of the immunoregulatory mechanism of acupuncture-moxibustion treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and shows that RA occurrence involves a complex process in which immunocytes, cytokines, Immunoreactive substances and neuro-endocrino-immune network participate together. The article proposes that the future study should utilize the newest achievements in modern medical development and conduct a thorough and systematic investigation from multiple disciplines, levels and angles to promote the study of the immunoregulatory mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion in RA treatment and make traditional acupuncture-moxibustion therapy still play its unique advantages in the RA field.

BACKGROUND: Neuropeptide Y (NPY) neurons are extensively located in various brain regions such as cerebral cortex, caudate-putamen nucleus, syslimbic system, thalamus and brain stem. They are also involved in various brain activities such as motor learning, motor memory and motor integration. Considering the fact that cerebellum can reorganize through motor learning, we tried to identify the morphology and distribution of NPY neurons in rat's cerebellar cortex to obtain the morphologic knowledge that is related to its cerebellar-cortex-based motor learning.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the morphology and distribution of NPY -immunoreactive neurons in rat's cerebellar cortex, and discuss the relationship between NPY neurons and cerebellum motor learning and motor memory.DESIGN: A single-sample-study based on animal samples.SETTING: Anatomy Department, Pathophysiology Department and Morphology Center in Xinxiang Medical College.MATERIALS: From July to December 2001, the experiment was performed at the Morphology Center in Xinxiang Medical College. Ten Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, clean grade, regardless of their gender and weighing 100-200 g,were selected.METHODS: After intraperitoneal injection anesthesia and ascending aorta infusion fixation, the cerebellum was taken out by craniosurgery. The cerebellum was immersed in the same fixative fluid for duration of 48 hours, and then was embedded in paraffin. The next step was to make continuous sagittal sections. NPY neurons were identified by SP immunohistochemical staining, using rats cerebral section as the positive control. In the negative control, the first antibody replaced by Bovine Calf Serum(BCS), and the second antibody replaced by 0.01 mol/L PBS. Sequentially the light-microscopic observation and micrography were recorded.MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: The Morphology and distribution of NPY neurons in rat's cerebellar cortex were taken as main outcome measurements.RESULTS: NPY-immunoreactive neurons were distributed in the Purkinje layer of the cerebellum. They had pear-like or spherical shapes, clear and unstained nucleus, unstained axons and dendrites, and their axons stretching out into the granular layer while the reticular dendrites elongated into the molecular layer. NPY-immunoreactive fibers, instead of neurons, were found in the molecular layer and granular layer.CONCLUSION: NPY-immunoreactive neurons in the Purkinje layer of the cerebellum may be involved in motor learning, motor memory, visceral activity and higher motor integration.

Objective To analyse the clinical features of community-acquired pneumonia(CAP)in out-patients.Methods A retrospective study was performed on 179 consecutive patients with CAP in fever clinic of Xuanwu Hospital during two months.Results Most of CAP patients were young(aged 14 to 30 years,accounting for 58.1%)and had no-existing diseases(72.6%).Within 2 to 4 days after onset of fever,50%~80% of patients were diagnosed as CAP.About 1/3 of patients had no respiratory symptoms except for fever.Cough and sputum production was seen in 52.5% of patients.WBC was normal in 63.1%.Unilateral pneumonia often occurred(accounting for 82.1%).After treatment with antibiotics,fever in 80%(42/52)of cases disappeared within 3 days in follow-up patients.Conclusion In fever clinic,most patients are young and have no-existing diseases.They can be identified as CAP quickly and have good outcomes.

Meridian syndromes are the required basic knowledge for mastering Science of Meridians, Collaterals and Acupoints but have not brought the adequate attention on the teaching program. The writers discovered' that the content of this section occupied a decisive role for developing the students' clinical thinking ability and, stimulating their interests to learn classical TCM theories. It's necessary to enhance the importance on meridian syndromes during teaching program. The teaching program was discussed in three aspects, named workshop pattern, competitive pattern and multimedia pattern. This teaching method may improve students' interests in the study on classical TCM theories, deepen the understanding on knowledge and motivate students' learning autonomy so that the teaching quality can be improved.
Acupuncture ; education ; Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Learning ; Meridians ; Teaching ; methods

Objective To observe the effect of Xuebijing injection on blood coagulation in patients with sepsis. Methods 300 patients with sepsis were randomly divided into control group and Xuebijing injection treatment group(each,150 cases). According to the guidelines of treatment for sepsis,the conventional treatment was given to both groups,and additionally Xuebijing injection 50 mL plus normal saline 100 mL intravenous drip was applied in the treatment group,twice a day for consecutive 7 days. Before treatment and after treatment for 3 days and 7 days,platelet count(PLT),four items of blood coagulation〔prothrombin time(PT),thrombin time(TT),fibrinogen (Fib)and activated partial thromboplastin time(APTT)〕,D-dimer levels and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)incidence were observed in the two groups. Results Before treatment,the levels of Fib,PT,TT,APTT, PLT,D-dimer and the incidence of DIC had no significant differences between the two groups(all P>0.05);after treatment,the levels of PT,TT,APTT,D-dimer and the DIC incidence were significantly lower than those before treatment,while Fib and PLT were significantly enhanced after treatment,and on the 7th day after treatment,the changes in Xuebijing group were more obvious〔Fib(g/L):3.02±0.51 vs. 2.53±0.56,PT(s):13.82±1.91 vs. 16.03±1.68,TT(s):13.85±1.94 vs. 16.03±1.65,APTT(s):39.47±4.73 vs. 42.75±5.24,PLT(×109/L):118.10±15.80 vs. 99.77±15.67,D-dimer(mg/L):3.17±0.26 vs. 3.66±0.50,DIC incidence:5.3%(8/150)vs. 14.0%(21/150),P<0.05 or P<0.01〕. Conclusion Xuebijing injection can improve the hypercoagulable state and reduce the incidence of DIC in patients with sepsis.

Objective To clone and analyze the MN/CA9 gene sequence in ICR mice and detect the expressions of MN/CA9 gene in various tissues of ICR mice.Methods The fresh tissues of small intesine, uterrus, skin, musle, liver, pancreas, heart, lung, thymus, spleen, kidney, ovary, stomach ,urinary bladder from ICR mice were obtained , the total RNA was extracted by GIT method, the 1st strand and 2nd strand of cDNA were synthesized, the EcoRⅠ adapters were lingated,the EcoRⅠ ends were phosphorylated, digested with XhoⅠ ,cDNA was ligated into the ZAP expression vector, packaged, planted, screened.The expressions of MN/CA 9 gene in various tissues in mice were detected by RT-PCR.Results A fragment of human MN/CA9 gene was used as probe, and 1.47?10~3 clones were screened with radioactive isotopic ~ 32 P labeled probe, after hybridizations, one positive signal of cDNA was detected and the complete nucleotide sequence contained 1 671 bp was determined (GenBank:AB086322), The nucleotide similarity between mouse and human cDNA (GenBank:Z54349) was 69.1%.The MN/CA9 gene detected by RT-PCR assay (primer: P521-P1193) strongly expressed in small intesine,uterus, musle, pancreas, heart, lung, thymus, spleen, kidney, ovary, stomach,and urinary bladder,meanwhile did not express in skin and liver. Conclusion The expressions of MN/CA9 gene in some tissues of ICR mice are similar to that of human, it can be used to further functional analysis of MN/CA9 gene.

Brain Neoplasms ; pathology ; Humans ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; pathology

Objective:To study the methods of early qualitative diagnosis of laryngeal displasia and earlycarcinoma. Methods:We investigated displasia (34 cases),squamous cell carcimoa (19 cases) and vocalcord polyps (17 cases) of larynx which were embeded in paraffin by PCR－SSCP analysis of p53 gene,im－munochemi stain of p53 protein and Ⅳ collagen,cytometer (determining fraction of cell cycle) and AgNORstain. Results :Eleven of 34 cases of displasia were all positive in the indexes. Seven of 11 cases were alsopositive in pathology,but others were negative. Five of 34 cases of displasia were all negative in the index-es,2 of 5 cases were positive and 1 of 5 cases were negative,other two cases did not have following-up re-sults in pathology. Conclusion :The results suggest that it is the combination of the morphological indexeswith biological indexe that is more scientific and more accurate in quatitative diagnosis of premalignantchange.

BACKGROUND: Angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ) can induce cardiac hypertrophy and platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF) also stimulates cardiac hypertrophy. Is AngⅡ responsible for the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy by inducing PDGF receptor expression?OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) on the role of cardiac hypertrophy induced by Ang Ⅱ in cardiac myocytes so as to provide theoretical basis for clinical prevention and cure of cardiac hypertrophy.DESIGN: Controlled experimental study taking cardiac myocytes of cultured neonatal rats as subjects.SETTING: Department of pathophysiology in a university.MATERIALS: The experiment was completed in the Department of Pathophysiology, Medical College of Peking University. A total of 80 Wistar rats of either gender, aged 1 - 3 days, were provided by the Animal Center of Medical College, Peking University. Their hearts were removed for myocyte culture in the Cell Culture Laboratory.INTERVENTIONS: The cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes treated with 10-7mol/L Ang Ⅱ were Ang Ⅱ group, and those preincubated with 10-5mol/L PD98059(an antagonist of MAPK) for 30 minutes and then treated with Ang Ⅱ were PD98059 group. Cardiac myocytes of normal neonatal rats were as control group. The expression of PDGF-β was detected by western blot at 24 hours.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Content of PDGF-β receptor in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes.RESULTS: The expression of PDGF-β receptor induced by Ang Ⅱ at neonatal rat cardiac myocytes markedly increased at 24 hours (432.41 ± 54.08) compared with that of control group(197.65 ± 44. 10) ( q = 6.77, P< 0.01 ). PDGF-β receptor expression of PD98059 group(317.2 ± 21.12) decreased compared with that of Ang Ⅱ group(q = 3.91, P < 0.05) .However, the expression did not return to the level of control group, and there was significant difference between PD98059 group and control group( q= 3.85, P <0.05).CONCLUSION: The results indicate that angiotensin Ⅱ promotes cardiac hypertrophy through inducing expression of PDGF receptor, in which mitogen activated protein kinase participates in. Maybe it is another important mechanism for Ang Ⅱ -induced cardiac hypertrophy. The results can provide experimental data for the primary and secondary prevention in heart rehabilitation.