OBJECTIVETo observe the impacts of acupoint catgut embedding therapy and acupuncture-moxibustion therapy on the long-term efficacy and patient's life quality in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.

METHODSSixty-nine patients were randomized into the combined acupuncture-moxibustion and acupoint catgut embedding therapy group (combined therapy group, 36 cases) and an acupuncture-moxibustion group (33 cases). In the acupuncture-moxibustion group, acupuncture was applied at Yingxiang (LI 20), Shangyingxiang (EX-HN 8), Yintang (GV 29), Shangxing (GV 23), Tongtian (BL 7) and Zusanli (ST 36). Moxibustion was applied at Zusanli (ST 36), Feishu (BL 13), Dazhui (GV 14) and Fengmen (BL 12). In the combined therapy group, on the basis of the treatment as acupuncture-moxibustion group, the catgut embedding therapy was applied at Feishu (BL 13), Fengmen (BL 12), Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23), Zhongwan (CV 12) and Qihai (CV 6). The treatment duration was 4 weeks in the two groups. The clinical efficacy of allergic rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) score were observed before and after treatment as well as in the 4-weeks follow-up after the end of treatment respectively.

RESULTSThe markedly effective rate was 72.7% (24/33) in the combined therapy group and 48.4% (15/31) in the acupuncture-moxibustion group after treatment. The efficacy was similar between the two groups (P > 0.05). It was 57.6% (19/33) in the combined therapy group and was 22. 6% (7/31) in the 4-week follow-up after treatment, indicating the long-term efficacy in the combined therapy group was superior to that in the acupuncture-moxibustion group (P<0. 05). Scores of RQLO after treatment and in 4-week follow-up after treatment in both groups were improved as compared with those before treatment (all P < 0.05). In 4-week follow-up, the improvements in sleep and affection in the combined therapy group were superior to the acupuncture-moxibustion group (3.27 +/- 3.23 vs 4.61 +/- 3.56, 3.48 +/- 3.67 vs 5.81 +/- 4.15, both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe acupoint catgut embedding therapy combined with acupuncture-moxibustion therapy are safe and effective in the treatment of allergic rhinitis and display the more roles in the long-term efficacy.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Catgut ; utilization ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Quality of Life ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

In the face of escalating problems with pathogen control, the development of proper formulations of existing antibiotics is as important as the development of novel antibiotics. Daptomycin is a lipopeptide antibiotic with potent activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Currently, only injectable solution of daptomycin has been approved for clinical use. In the present study, the formulation of PEGylated liposomal daptomycin (PLD) was prepared and optimized, and its efficacy against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA252) strains was investigated. The obtained PLD had a mean vesicle diameter of (111.5 +/- 15.4) nm and a mean percent drug loading of (5.81 +/- 0.19) % with high storage stability. Potent activity of PLD against MRSA was demonstrated in vitro with a more sustained effect than that of conventional liposomal daptomycin and daptomycin solution. In addition, intravenous administration of a single dose (equal to human use) of PLD significantly increased the survival of mice in a MRSA252 systemic infection model compared with other formulations. Drug distribution in the lung was significantly enhanced following administration of PLD, and no measurable tissue lesions or pathological changes were detected during PLD treatment. Taken together, PEGylated liposomes loaded with daptomycin may represent a promising approach to reduce MRSA252 infections, especially those involving bloodstream dissemination, such as hematogenous pulmonary infection.
Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Daptomycin ; pharmacology ; Liposomes ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects ; Mice ; Staphylococcal Infections ; drug therapy

AIM To establish an HPLC method for the simultaneous content determination of four constituents in Xiaojie'an Capsules (Forsythiae Fructus,Leonuri Herba,Spatholobi Caulis,etc.).METHODS The analysis of chloroform extract of this drug was carried out on a 30 ℃ thermostatic Diamond C1scolumn(250 mm ×4.6 mm,5 μm),with the mobile phase comprising of acetonitrile (A)-0.05 mol/L monosodium phosphate (B) flowing at 1.0 mL/min in a gradient elution manner,and the detection wavelength was set at 278 nm.RESULTS Berberine hydrochloride,palmatine chloride,phillyrin and rutin showed good linear relationships within the ranges of 0.033 7-0.337 2 μg (r =0.999 1),0.054 8-0.548 3 μg (r =0.999 0),0.025 9-0.258 8 μg (r=0.999 2) and 0.008 4-0.084 2 μg (r =0.999 6),whose average recoveries were 98.8％ (RSD =1.3％),99.8％ (RSD =0.7％),98.8％ (RSD =1.3％) and 96.8％ (RSD =1.0％),respectively.CONCLUSION This sensitive and accurate method can be used for the quality control of Xiaojie'an Capsules.

Objective:To investigate the expression of wild type estrogen receptor(wER)and the ex-on-5 deleted ER(variant ER,vER)in human hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)samples,and thereafteranalyze the possibility of HCC treatment by endocrine therapy.Methods:The mRNA expressions of wERand vER were analysed from 28 cases of HCC by RT-PCR.The expression of ER at the protein level wasdetected by immunohistochemistry(IHC).Results:IHC results showed that 39.3% of the HCC speci-mens expressed ER.The mRNA of wER was detected in 89.3%(25/28)of the HCC specimens whilethat of vER was detected in 96.4%(27/28).Twenty four out of 28 HCC cases(85.7%)expressedboth wER and vER.One out of 28 patients(3.5%)expressed only wER whereas 3 patients out of 28(10.7%)expressed vER only.Conclusion:Ninety six percent(27/28)of the HCC patients expressedvER,which suggests that the expression of vER is an important event in the development of HCC.

OBJECTIVETo explore the molecular mechanism of pain associated with chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) in the rat model of prostatic inflammation.

METHODSThirty-six male SD rats were equally randomized to an experimental and a control group, the former injected with 50 μl of 3% λ-carrageenan into the ventral prostate to make the model of non-bacterial prostatic inflammation, while the latter with the same volume of sterile saline solution. At 1, 2 and 4 weeks after modeling, the prostate, L6-S1 dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord were harvested for examination of the expressions of the nerve growth factor (NGF), transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1), and calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP) by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.

RESULTSThe expressions of NGF, TRPA1 and CGRP in the prostatic tissue were all significantly increased in the experimental group as compared with the control (P <0.05), with a gradual decrease with the prolonging of time (P <0.05). In the L6-S1 DRG and spinal cord, the expressions of NGF, TRPA1 and CGRP exhibited no significant differences between the experimental and control groups at 1 week after modeling (P >0.05) and kept at high levels in the experimental group at 2 and 4 weeks, though not significantly different from those at 1 week (P >0.05). Statistically significant differences were observed in the expressions of the three proteins in the experimental rats among different time points (P <0.05), but not between the two groups at any time point (P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe molecular mechanism of CP/CPPS can be evaluated in the rat model of prostatic inflammation established by injecting λ-carrageenan into the prostate. TRPA1 may play an important role in connecting the upstream and down-stream pathways of CP/CPPS-associated pain.

Animals ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; metabolism ; Carrageenan ; Chronic Disease ; Chronic Pain ; metabolism ; Ganglia, Spinal ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Nerve Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Pelvic Pain ; metabolism ; Prostatitis ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord ; metabolism ; TRPA1 Cation Channel ; TRPC Cation Channels ; metabolism

Objective To compare the diagnostic value of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and 64 multi-slice spiral CT (64-MSCT) for coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods Fifty-two patients with suspected or known CAD were included in the study. Each patient underwent both stress and rest MPI,MSCT as well as conventional coronary angiography (CAG) within 1 month. The stress and rest MPI were scored by a 5-grade criteria (0 ～ 4) based on 17 coronary artery segments. The difference between summed stress and rest scores ＞ 1 was defined as myocardial ischemia. Stenosis in one main vessel or one main branch of the main vessel ≥50% was defined as myocardial ischemia by MSCT. CAG was used as the reference for comparison. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 13. 0 software. Kappa value was used to test the accordance of MPI and MSCT results. X2 test was used to evaluate the difference between MPI and MSCT results. Results The patient-based sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy of MPI and MSCT for the diagnosis of CAD were 86.7% (26/30), 77.3% ( 17/22),83.9% (26/31), 81.0% ( 17/21), 82.7% (43/52) and 83.3% ( 25/30), 86.4% ( 19/22), 89.3%( 25/28), 79.2% ( 19/24), 84.6% (44/52), respectively. The vessel-based sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy of MPI and MSCT were 74.5% (38/51), 81.0% (85/105 ), 65.5% (38/58), 86.7% ( 85/98), 78.8% ( 123/156 ) and 90.2% (46/51 ), 88.6% ( 93/105 ),79.3 % (46/58), 94.9% (93/98), 89.1% ( 139/156), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between MPI and MSCT for either patient or lesion-based diagnosis (X2 =0.44, 0.21, both P ＞0.05 ). 96.0% (24/25) patients with both abnormal MPI and MSCT positive were valified by CAG while 83.3% (15/18) patients with both MPI and MSCT negative were excluded by CAG. Conclusions Both MPI and MSCT are reliable diagnostic modalities for CAD. They also provide complementary diagnostic value to each other.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical significance and detection of the expression of CD25- CD127- on CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood in patients with hepatitis B.

METHODSThe expression of CD25- CD127- on CD4+ T cells were measured by using flow cytometry in 53 patients with chronic hepatitis B, 53 carrier with hepatitis B virus and 26 healthy blood donors, and follow up 20 patients with HBV-DNA positive treated with interferon.

RESULTS(1) Compared with healthy controls, the expression of CD25- CD127- on CD4+ T cells in patients and carrier with hepatitis B virus were lower (Q = 4.559, P < 0.05; Q = 6.230, P < 0.05). (2) The expression of CD25- CD127- on CD4+ T cells in patients with HBV-DNA positive (n = 77) was lower than that of negative (n = 29) (t = 2.290, P = 0.024). (3) Compared with the prior treatment,the expression of CD25- CD127- on CD4+ T cells in patients with B hepatitis were lower after interferon treated with 12 weeks (t = 2.469, P = 0.024).

CONCLUSIONIt suggested that the CD25- CD127- expression on CD4+ T cells correlated with viral infections and cleared,exogenous interferon could decrease CD25- CD127- expression on CD4+ T cells.

Adult ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Hepatitis B ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit ; blood ; Interleukin-7 Receptor alpha Subunit ; blood ; Male

Bone Marrow Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; CD28 Antigens ; blood ; metabolism ; CD4 Antigens ; blood ; metabolism ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Dendritic Cells, Follicular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunoblastic Lymphadenopathy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Immunophenotyping ; methods ; Lymphoma, T-Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neprilysin ; blood ; metabolism ; Receptors, Complement 3d ; blood ; metabolism ; fas Receptor ; blood ; metabolism

Objective: To analyze the features and patterns of acupoint selection in acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) by data mining technique. Methods:Relevant clinical studies published before 25 June, 2017 were searched in databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane library, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China National Knowledge infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang Academic Journal Full-text Database (Wanfang). Results:A total of 122 papers were included, involving 69 points. It was found that the top three points on the frequency list were Zusanli (ST 36), Zhongwan (CV 12) and Weishu (BL 21). The points selected were distributed in 11 meridians, in which the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming, Conception Vessel, and Bladder Meridian of Foot Taiyang ranked the top and accounted for 74.0％ of the total frequency. Of the involved specific points, Five Shu-Transmitting points, crossing points and Back-Shu points ranked the top, accounting for 47.1％. The analysis of association pattern has shown that Zusanli (ST 36) and Zhongwan (CV 12) won the highest support rate in the paired groups; Zusanli (ST 36), Weishu (BL 21) and Zhongwan (CV 12) had the highest support rate among the point groups. The Five Shu-Transmitting points and the Lower He-Sea points had the highest support rate among the specific point groups. Conclusion: The data mining results of the studies on acupuncture-moxibustion for CAG are substantially in line with the acupuncture-moxibustion treatment theories in traditional Chinese medicine. The results can reflect the acupoint selection patterns in treatment of CAG and provide reference for acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of CAG in clinic.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the serum level of soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) and its association with the degree of anemia in children with hemoglobin H (HbH) disease. METHODS: A total of 55 children with HbH disease were enrolled as the HbH group, and 30 healthy children were enrolled as the control group. The HbH group was further divided into a deletional HbH disease group and a non-deletional HbH disease group. A retrospective analysis was performed for hematological parameters and serum sTfR level in all groups. RESULTS: Of the 55 children with HbH disease, 39 had deletional HbH disease and 16 had non-deletional HbH disease. Compared with the control group, the deletional and non-deletional HbH disease groups had significantly lower hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and a significantly higher serum level of sTfR. Compared with the deletional HbH disease group, the non-deletional HbH disease group had significantly lower red blood cell count (RBC) and Hb level and significantly higher MCV, MCH, and serum sTfR level. In children with HbH disease, serum sTfR level was negatively correlated with RBC and Hb level (r=-0.739 and -0.667 respectively, P<0.05) and positively correlated with MCV and MCH (r=0.750 and 0.434 respectively, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Serum sTfR level is associated the degree of anemia in children with HbH disease, and sTfR may be a target for the treatment of HbH disease.
Child ; Erythrocyte Count ; Hemoglobin H ; Humans ; Receptors, Transferrin ; Retrospective Studies ; alpha-Thalassemia