OBJECTIVETo observe the neurological protection effects of "paraplegia-triple-needling method" on rats with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI), so as to make a preliminary exploration on its mechanism.

METHODSA total of 45 SD rats were randomly divided into a paraplegia-triple-needling method group (group A), a regular acupuncture group (group B) and a model group (group C), 15 rats in each one. The rats model of incomplete spinal cord injury was established by modified Allen's method. The acupoints of governor vessel and back-shu points next to the vertebras of upper end and lower end of injured segment as well as motor points in key muscle of lower extremities were treated with acupuncture in the group A; the acupoints of governor vessel and back-shu points next to the vertebras of upper end and lower end of injured segment as well as "Huantiao" (GB 30), "Housanli" (ST 36), "Yanglingquan" (GB 34) and "Genduan"(Extra) were treated with acupuncture in the group B; rats in the group C received no treatment after model establishment but grabbing and immobilization. The needles were retained for 15 min in the group A and group B, once a day for 14 times. 1 d, 7 d and 14 d after model establishment, Basso Beattie Bresnahan (BBB) scores were observed in each group; the morphologic change of injured spinal cord and expression of positive cells of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were observed. Results (1) One day after SCI, there was no significant difference of BBB scores among three groups (P> 0. 05); 7 days and 14 days after SCI, BBB scores in the group A and group B were significantly superior to those in the group C (all P<0. 05), and the BBB scores in the group A were superior to those in the group B ( both P<0. 05). (2) There was expression of CGRP positive cells in all three groups, and that in the group A and group B was significantly higher than that in group C (both P<0. 05); 14 days after treatment, the expression in the group A was higher than that in the group B (P<0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe "paraplegia-triple-needling method" could obviously! improve the motor function of rats with SCI, especially the expression of neuroprotective factor CGRP, which is likely to be one of the mechanisms of neurological protection effect.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Animals ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy

Anti-contactin associated protein-like 2 (CASPR2) antibody encephalitis is a rare autoimmune encephalitis with variable clinical symptoms and atypical imaging manifestations. The prognosis of the patients with severe disease is poor. Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome is rarely reported in autoimmune encephalitis. The clinical data, diagnosis and treatment of a patient with anti-CASPR2 antibody encephalitis complicated with reversible posterior encephalopathy syndrome were reported, in order to improve the understanding of clinicians on the rare disease complicated with atypical imaging manifestations.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the cost effectiveness of HIV screening project in three Guangxi infectious disease special demonstration project countries in 2013.

METHODSTo calculate the funds used for the HIV screening project and to study the data on HIV/AIDS and HAART. A five-tree markov model was used to evaluate the quality adjusted life year (QALY) of this HIV screening project and to analyze the related cost effectiveness of the project.

RESULTSThe cost of HIV screening in Guangxi infectious disease special demonstration project areas was 19.205 million Yuan and having identified 1 218 HIV/AIDS patients. The average costs for HIV/AIDS positive detection in three project countries were 14.562, 18.424 and 14.042 thousand Yuan per case. The QALYs gained from finding a HIV/AIDS case were 12.736, 8.523 and 8.321 on average, with the total number of QALYs gained from the project as 5 973.184, 3 613.752 and 2 704.325. The overall cost effectiveness ratio of the project was 1.562 thousand Yuan per QALY, and 1.143, 2.162 and 1.688 thousand Yuan per QALY in these three project countries. Project country "A" showed better cost effectiveness index than country B and C.

CONCLUSIONThe HIV screening project in Guangxi seemed relatively cost-effective but the average cost of HIV/AIDS positive detection was expensive. To strengthen HAART work for HIV/AIDS could improve the cost-effective of the project.

Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; China ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; HIV Infections ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; economics ; Program Evaluation ; Quality-Adjusted Life Years

OBJECTIVETo understand the current situation and characteristics of commercial sexual behavior among old male clients in Guangxi, and to explore the associated risk factors of HIV infection.

METHODSThe areas in Guangxi where more old male HIV cases were reported followed by survey on those male clients who were over 60 years of age, were selected. A total of 5 ml blood sample was collected to test antibodies of HIV and syphilis. Risk factors were calculated by the multivariate logistic analysis method.

RESULTSA total of 1 236 questionnaires were completed in the survey. 65.61% of the old male clients were from low-grade venues with 53.64% of them never using a condom when engaging in commercial sex behavior. 47.33% of them patronized sex workers for around 10 years. 53.32% of them patronized prostitutes not less than 2 times in the last 30 days. Thirty subjects were HIV positive (2.43%) and 40 were syphilis positive (3.24%). Factor as 'having fixed partners' (OR = 0.302, 95% CI:0.140-0.650) appeared protective for the old male clients of HIV infection, with a history of patronizing sex workers from 1 to 5 years (OR = 2.552, 95% CI: 1.086-5.998). Frequency of patronizing sex workers not less than 4 times in the last 30 days (OR = 3.002, 95%CI:1.047-8.607) seemed the high risk factor of HIV infection.

CONCLUSIONOlder-aged male clients showed high HIV and syphilis infection rates in Guangxi, and most of them were using the low-grade venues. Commercial sexual behaviors in the areas would include early and, frequent exposure, but with poor protections. High risk factors of HIV infection might relate to "no fixed sexual partners" and "frequently commercial sexual behavior".

Aged ; Antibodies ; China ; epidemiology ; Condoms ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Sex Work ; statistics & numerical data ; Sex Workers ; Sexual Behavior ; Sexual Partners ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Syphilis ; epidemiology