OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy difference in treatment of functional dyspepsia (FD) between syndrome differentiation based acupuncture and ordinary acupuncture.

METHODSSeventy FD patients were assigned to a syndrome differentiation based acupuncture group (Group A) and an ordinary acupuncture group (Group B) by Excel Software randomization. Zhongwan (RN12 ), Tianshu (ST25), and Zusanli (ST36) were needled as main points for patients in Group A. Meanwhile, different combined acupoints were needled according to syndrome differentiation. Only the same main points were needled for patients in Group B. All patients were needled once per day, 30 min each time, 6 days as one treatment cycle, 2 treatment cycles in total. Fasting serum levels of gastrin (GAS) and motilin (MTL) were determined before treatment and after 2 treatment cycles. 36-item Short-form Heath Survey (SF-36) and Nepean Dyspepsia Index [NDI, including Nepean Dyspepsia Symptom Index (NDSI) and Nepean Dyspepsia Life Quality Index (NDLQI)] were assessed before treatment, after 2 treatment cycles, and one month after treatment.

RESULTSCompared with before treatment in the same group, serum levels of GAS and MLT increased in the two groups after 2 treatment cycles (P <0. 05), but changes were more obvious in Group A (P <0. 05). Compared with before treatment in the same group, SF-36 and NDLQI score increased, and NDSI score decreased in the two groups after 2 treatment cycles and 1 month after treatment (all P <0. 05). Compared with Group B, SF-36 and NDLQI score increased in Group A after 2 treatment cycles and 1 month after treatment (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). But NDSI score at 1 month after treatment was lower in Group A than in Group B (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONSyndrome differentiation based acupuncture could evidently improve dyspeptic symptoms of FD patients, and significantly improve their quality of life with remarkable curative effect.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Dyspepsia ; therapy ; Humans ; Motilin ; Needles ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Syndrome

OBJECTIVETo detect the polymorphisms of Radix Plygoni Multiflori in chongqing by means of a new marker system SRAP.

METHODDifferent shaples of Radix Plygoni Multiflori from major production areas were collected. The SRAP was used to asses divergence among 16 populations. The data were analyzed using unweighted pairgroup method, based on arithmetic averages (UPGMA) bootstrap analysis. Cluster analyses was performed by using DPSv3.01 software, the alkaloid was extracted from P. ternate with chlorolform.

RESULT104 combinations generated 250 polymorphie bands, the cluster analysis indicated that 16 materials could be distinguished into two main groups and one special type, Nei&Li similarity coefficient ranged from 0.23-0.99, and the average distance is 0. 44.

CONCLUSIONThe results of the study showed a potential application of SRAP fingerprinting for identification of Radix Plygoni Multiflori.

Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Genetic Markers ; Genetic Variation ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; methods ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots ; genetics ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; genetics ; Polygonum ; classification ; genetics

An alkaline catalase has been purified and characterized from a slightly halophilic and alkaliphilic bacterium Bacillus sp. F26. The purification was performed with a four step procedure consisting of ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion exchange, gel filtration and hydrophobic interaction chromatography, and finally achieved a 58.5-fold-purifying over the crude extract. The purified catalase was composed of two identical subunits with a native molecular mass of 140 kD. The native enzyme showed the typical Soret band appearing at 408 nm. The pyridine hemochrome spectrum indicated the presence of protoheme IX as the prosthetic group. The apparent Km value for enzyme activity on H2O2 was calculated to be 32.5 mmol/L. The activity of this catalase was not reduced by dithionite but was strongly inhibited by cyanide, azide, and 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (the specific inhibitor of monofunctional catalase). No peroxidase activity of this enzyme was detected when using o-dianisidine, diaminobenzidine (DAB) and p-phenylenediamine as electron donor. Moreover, the N-terminal sequence of this catalase exhibited substantial similarity to the monofunctional catalase subgroup rather than catalase-peroxidase or Mn-catalase one. Therefore, we characterize the purified catalase as a monofunctional catalase. Besides, this monofunctional catalase was thermosensitive and its activity exhibited pH-independent over pH 5-9 but showed a sharp maximum at pH 11. An activity half-life of approximately 49 h was measured when the enzyme was incubated at 20 degrees C and pH 11. To our knowledge, pH 11 is the most alkaline condition for optimum catalysis and enzyme stability among the catalases reported up to now. Furthermore, this monofunctional catalase also showed excellent halo-alkali-stability with a half-life of approximately 90 h at 0.5 mol/L NaCl and pH 10.5. On the other hand, so far as we know, the characterized catalase is the first dimeric monofunctional catalase from alkaliphiles and is also the first monofunctional catalase derived from a natural soda lake, which could partially reflect the oxidative stress response in the corresponding environment.
Bacillus ; enzymology ; Bacterial Proteins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Catalase ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Enzyme Stability ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Temperature

Primary angiitis of the central nervous system is a rare and difficult entity. Here we represented the clinical and pathological features of a patient with little response to steroid before definite diagnosis. The 50-year-old male had a fluctuating disease course for more than 3 years. He presented visual disorders, seizure, cognitive impairment, hypersomnia, unsteady gait, dysphasia, dysphagia, and incontinence. Magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple, supratentorial and infratentorial abnormal signals, while cerebrospinal fluid and cerebral angiography were normal. Magnetic resonance spectrum showed a decrease of N-acetyl-aspartate. Brain biopsy revealed nongranulomatous lymphatic vasculitis with reactive gliosis, cicatrization, demyelination and focal hemorrhages.
Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Vasculitis, Central Nervous System ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo study CXCR3 and CCR5 chemokine receptor expression in spleens of patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and its clinical significance.

METHODSThe splenectomy specimens from 10 ITP patients (ITP group) and 8 patients with traumatic splenic rupture (normal control group) were studied. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to study the positive rate of CXCR3 and CCR5. Western blot was performed to detect CXCR3 and CCR5 protein expression, while real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was conducted to analyze their mRNA expression.

RESULTSThe positive rate of CXCR3 and CCR5 were both higher in ITP group (90% and 100%, respectively) than those in control group (75% and 87.5%, respectively)(P < 0.05). The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Protein and mRNA level of CXCR3 in ITP group were 3.0 and 3.5 times as high as those in control group, respectively. Those of CCR5 in ITP group were 1.2 and 1.7 times as high as those in control group, respectively.

CONCLUSIONHigh expression of CXCR3 and CCR5 may play a part in the splenic immune disorders in patients with ITP.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, CCR5 ; metabolism ; Receptors, CXCR3 ; metabolism ; Spleen ; metabolism ; Thrombocytopenia ; immunology ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the use of a 32P application device (AD) in the treatment of condyloma acuminatum (CA) in the rectum, and to compare its clinical effect with that of the microwave therapy.

METHODSThis study included 107 cases of CA in the rectum, 99 males and 8 females, aged 21-58 (33.6 +/- 9.4) years. Forty-six of the patients (the AD group) were treated with a self-made 32P application device, which, as a tube-shaped carrier of radionuclide 32P colloid, was fixed in the rectum at the diseased part for medication at 4.9-8.2 Gy for 3-5 hours once and 1-2 times a week. The other 61 (the microwave group) were treated by microwave burning under local anesthesia. Both groups of patients were followed up for over 3 months for comparison of the therapeutic results and observation of the stability and reliability of the 32P application device.

RESULTSThe rates of cure, reoccurrence and adverse reaction were 84, 8%, 13.0% and 8.7% in the AD group, compared with 40.3%, 55.7% and 75.4% in the microwave group, with statistically significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe 32P application device, with its advantages of low cost, easy operation, good effect, high safety and reliability, low recurrence, fewer adverse events and good acceptability, is highly valuable for the treatment of CA in the rectum.

Adult ; Condylomata Acuminata ; therapy ; Drug Delivery Systems ; instrumentation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microwaves ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Phosphorus Radioisotopes ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Rectal Diseases ; therapy ; virology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo determine the pulmonary pathological changes in hematological malignancy patients with pulmonary complications.

METHODS17 hematological malignancy patients underwent surgical treatment were evaluated retrospectively. The pathological changes of all the surgical specimens were examined postoperatively by standard hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining.

RESULTSPathological examination confirmed: aspergillus infection in 9 patients, sub-acute inflammation (fibrosis and hematoma formation) in 3, and each in 1 of pulmonary infarction with granulomatous tissue in the periphery; granulomatous inflammation with calcified tubercle; alveolar dilation and hemorrhage, interstitial fibrosis and focal vasculitis; intercostal neurilemmoma; and moderate-differentiated adenocarcinoma accompanied by intrapulmonary metastasis. And several operative complications (1 case of fungal implantation, 3 pleural effusion and adhesions and 2 pulmonary hematoma) were occurred. The coincidence rate of pre- and post-operative diagnosis was 9/14 (64.3%). After surgery, 8 patients were received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT, allo-gene or autologous), with 7 succeeded. On effective secondary antifungal prophylaxis, 4 of 5 patients of aspergillosis succeeded in transplantation with free from mycotic relapse, one patient died from fungal relapse.

CONCLUSIONHematological malignancies with persistent and/or resistant pulmonary infection, hemoptysis, or unexplained lung diseases, should be treated in time by surgery operation to effectively eliminate residual disease and obtain a definitive diagnosis, so as to create a prerequisite condition for the following treatments. Moreover, the secondary antifungal prophylaxis can provide active roles for patients scheduled for chemotherapy and/or HSCT.

Aspergillosis ; diagnosis ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy and safety of BD regimen combined with cyclophosphamide(CTX) and pirarubicin chemotherapy(P-CAD) for patients with relapse/refractory multiple myeloma(MM).

METHODSTwenty-eight cases of relapse/refractory MM were enrolled in a group of P-CAD regimen, 36 cases of relapse/retractory MM treated with BD were used as controls. The therapeutic efficacy and adverse reactions of 2 regimens for patients with relapse/retractory MM were compared and analyzed.

RESULTSThe overall response rate (CR+NCR+PR+MR) of the 28 cases treated with P-CAD regimen was 85.7%, and the response rate (CR+PR) was 75.0%. The median progression-free survival time were 16.1 months, and the average survival time were 30.6 months, while the overall response rate of the 36 patients treated with BD regimen was 63.9%, and the response rate was 55.6%. The median progression-free survival time were 13.7 months, and the average survival time were 26.7 months. The adverse reactions of 2 groups included gastrointestinal reactions, peripheral neuropathy, fatigue, skin rashes, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia, and they were all well tolerated.

CONCLUSIONBD regimen combined with cyclophosphamide and pirarubicin chemotherapy can improve the response rate of patients with relapse/refractory multiple myeloma, and shows the trend of prolonging PFS and survival times. Patients were well tolerated, and this regimen is a new choice in treatment of relapse/refractory MM.

OBJECTIVEWe determined the genetic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in a remote mountainous area of southwest China and evaluated the resolving ability of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping combined with variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) genotyping for Beijing family strains in association with drug resistance status.

METHODSThree hundred thirty-one MTB strains were isolated from patients living in mountainous regions of southwest China, and 8-loci SNP, VNTR-15 genotyping assays, and drug susceptibility testing of 9 drugs were performed.

RESULTSA total of 183 [55.29% (183/331)] strains were classified into the Beijing family. Of the 183 strains, 111 (60.66%) were defined as modern Beijing strains. The most predominant modern Beijing sub-lineage and ancient Beijing sub-lineage were Bmyc10 [39.34% (72/183)] and Bmyc25 [20.77% (38/183)], respectively. Of the isolates, 19.64% (65/331) were resistant to at least 1 of the 9 anti-TB drugs and 17 [4.98% (17/331)] MTB isolates were multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Two hundred sixty-one isolates showed a clustering rate of 14.18% (37/261) and a discriminatory index of 0.9990. The Beijing lineage exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of MDR-TB, as well as resistance to isoniazid (INH), rifampin (RIF), and para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS) when analyzed independently (P = 0.005, P = 0.017, P = 0.014, and P = 0.006 respectively). The Beijing lineage was not associated with genetic clustering or resistance to any drug. In addition, genetic clustering was not associated with drug resistance.

CONCLUSIONMTB strains demonstrate high genetic diversity in remote mountainous areas of southwest China. Beijing strains, especially modern Beijing strains, are predominant in remote mountainous area of China. The combination of 8-loci SNPs and VNTR-15 genotyping is a useful tool to study the molecular epidemiology of MTB strains in this area.

Antitubercular Agents ; pharmacology ; China ; epidemiology ; Cluster Analysis ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Genotype ; Humans ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; drug effects ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Tuberculosis ; epidemiology ; microbiology

Objective　Mini-invasive Carisolv is an aid to treat dental caries for patients with dental phobia. The article was to investigate the level of pain in caries removal using mini-invasive Carisolv III gel and mechanical methods with four psychological indicators.　Methods　We collected 120 primary molar tooth caries of 60 children treated in our hospital. Two primary molar tooth caries of each child were respectively treated with Carisolv III gel (Group A) and mechanical method (Group B) for caries removal. Psychological indicators including the visual analog scale (VAS), the Frank1 behavior rating scale (Frank1), the Kuttner law (Kuttner), and the Houpt behavior rating scale (Houpt) were used to assess the level of pain, degree of cooperation, pain tolerance and comfort. The clinical efficiency after six months and treatment time were compared between the two groups.　Results　There was no statistically significant difference before treatment between the two groups using the four psychological indicators (P>0.05) , while significant differences were found during and after the treatment between the two groups (P<0.05). Then, Carisolv III gel and mechanical groups for careis removal were compared before, during and after treatment themselves. In the Carisolv III gel group, there was no statistically significant difference using the four psychological indicators (P>0.05). In the mechanical group, there were statistically significant differences before and during treatment or before and after treatment using the four psychological indicators (P<0.05). The treatment time in Carisolv III gel group was longer than in mechanical group (P=0.001). There was no statistical difference between the two groups in filling examination after six months (P=0.082).　Conclusion　Carisolv III gel for caries removal can effectively avoid pain, improve comfort and decrease fear in children, which can be promoted in clinical application.