OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical therapeutic effects on intractable facial paralysis among acupuncture, acupoint catgut embedding and PDS embedding.

METHODSTwo hundred and seventy-nine patients of intractable facial paralysis were randomized into an acupuncture group, a catgut embedding group and a PDS embedding group, 93 cases in each one. Cuanzhu (BL 2), Yuyao (EX-HN 4), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Xuanlu (GB 5), Dicang (ST 4), Jiache (ST 6), Quanliao (SI 18), Qianzheng (Extra), Xiaguan (ST 7) and Fengchi (GB 20) on the affected side and bilateral Hegu (LI 4) and Zusanli (ST 36) were selected in the three groups. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied to those acupoints, once every two days; 10 treatments made one session; the successive three sessions were required. In the catgut embedding group and the PDS embedding group, catgut and PDS were embedded separately, once every 10 days; 3 treatments made one session and the successive two sessions were required. The therapeutic cycle was 2 months in the three groups. The therapeutic results were analyzed statistically 2 months later. The scores of Sunnybrook facial nerve grading system and the facial nerve electroneurography (ENoG) were used for the efficacy assessment before and after treatment in the three groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the score of Sunnybrook facial nerve grading system was improved apparently after treatment as compared with that before treatment in any of the three groups (all P < 0.05). The score in either of the embedding groups was better than that in the acupuncture group (both P < 0.05). The difference was not significant between the catgut embedding group and the PDS embedding group (P > 0.05). After treatment, ENoG wave ampli tude values in the frontal muscle and orbicularisoris muscle on the affected side were improved as compared with those before treatment in the three groups (all P < 0.05). Those in the catgut embedding group and the PDS embedding group were better than those in the acupuncture group (all P < 0.05), and had no significant difference as compared with those on the healthy side (P > 0.05). In the acupuncture group, ENoG wave amplitudes on the affected side were lower than those on the healthy side (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture, catgut embedding and PDS embedding at acupoints all achieve the therapeutic effects on intractable facial paralysis. However, the acupoint embedding therapy presents more advantages on the recovery of facial nerve function. The efficacy is similar between the catgut embedding and the PDS embedding.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Catgut ; utilization ; Facial Paralysis ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the effects of narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) on the expression of keratin 17 (K17) in the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT.Methods Cultured HaCaT cells were irradiated with different doses (0,50,100,200,400 mJ/cm2) of NB-UVB followed by additional culture for 6,12 and 24 hours respectively.To explore the mechanisms underlying the effects of NB-UVB on K17 expression,some HaCaT cells were pretreated with PD98059 (an inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase) followed by UVB radiation and additional culture as described above.Cell counting kit-8 (CCK 8) was used to evaluate the proliferation of,real time PCR to measure the mRNA expressions of K17 in,and Western blot to determine the protein expression of K17,Erk1/2 and phosphorylated Erk1/2 in,HaCaT ceils.Results Both the proliferation of and K17 expression in HaCaT cells were promoted by NB-UVB radiation at low doses (50,100 mJ/cm2),but inhibited by NB-UVB radiation at high doses (200,400 mJ/cm2).Significant differences were observed for the proliferative activity between HaCaT cells irradiated with NB-UVB at 100 or 400 mJ/cm2 and unirradiated HaCaT ceils at 12 and 24 hours (P ＜ 0.01 or 0.05).The phosphorylation of Erk1/2 was upregulated by NB-UVB radiation at 100 mJ/cm2,but downregulated by that at 400 mJ/cm2,and the upregulation induced by low dose NB-UVB could be suppressed by blocking the Erk 1/2 pathway.Conclusion The effects of NB-UVB radiation on K17 expression may be modulated by the Erk 1/2 pathway.

Objective To compare and analyze the differences in the transcriptomics between mycelium and early yeast phases of Sporothrix schenckii (S.schenckii),and to realize the changes in transcriptome expression profiles during mycelium-to-yeast transformation.Methods A standard strain of S.schenckii (ATCC 10268) was subjected to 96-hour culture with Sabouraud medium at 25 ℃ or 36-hour culture with brain-heart infusion medium at 37 ℃ to obtain the mycelium and yeast form of S.schenckii,and then,their transcriptomes were sequenced.Functional annotation was performed for screened unigenes by comparison using several databases (such as NR,Swiss-Prot,KEGG,COG,KOG,GO and Pfam),coding sequence prediction,and gene expression analysis in each sample.Finally,the differentially expressed genes were subjected to pattern clustering,functional annotation and enrichment analysis.Results A total of 14.76 Gb valid data (clean data) were obtained,and functional annotation results were acquired in 28 094 of 43 863 assembled unigene clusters.Compared with S.schenckii in mycelium phase,there were 10 969 up-regulated genes and 199 down-regulated genes in S.schenckii in yeast phase.These differentially expressed genes were involved in protein phosphorylation,intracellular protein transport,cellular protein modification,small guanosine triphosphate-mediated signal transduction,vesicle-mediated transport,translation,intracellular signal transduction,microtubule formation,adenosine triphosphate synthesis,coupled proton transport and so on.Sixteen genes in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and two-component signaling pathway,which were two important signal transduction pathways involved in fungal morphogenesis,and 16 genes involved in chitin synthesis and metabolism were all confirmed to be up-regulated in S.schenckii in yeast phase.Conclusions Compared with S.schenckii in mycelium phase,great changes in gene expression profiles were observed in S.schenckii in yeast phase.These differentially expressed genes are involved in many functions,suggesting that the dimorphic transition of S.schenckii is regulated by a multi-gene network system.

Tinnitus and anxiety disorder are common clinical symptoms. Comorbidity between tinnitus and anxiety state is increasing year by year. The relationship between tinnitus and anxiety state has always been a hot topic, and this paper reviews the literature on the relationship between chronic subjective tinnitus and anxiety state in recent years.
Humans ; Tinnitus/diagnosis* ; Anxiety ; Anxiety Disorders/epidemiology* ; Comorbidity