Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture at abdomen acupoints plus tuina for lumbar intervertebral disc herniation (LIDH).Methods:A total of 70 patients with LIDH were randomized into an observation group and a control group,with 35 cases in each group.The observation group was treated with acupuncture at abdomen acupoints plus tuina,while the control group was treated only with tuina treatment.The clinical efficacy was observed after one course of treatment.Results:The cure rate and the total effective rate of the observation group were 83.3％ and 96.7％,respectively.The cure rate and the total effective rate of the control group were 39.4％ and 78.8％,respectively.There were significant differences in the cured rate and the total effective rate between the two groups (both P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score between the two groups before treatment (P＞0.05).After treatment,the JOA scores of both groups increased significantly,and the intra-group differences were statistically significant (both P＜0.05);the JOA score of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P＜0.05).Conclusion:Acupuncture at abdomen acupoints plus tuina has a better therapeutic effect than tuina alone in the treatment of LIDH.

Head and Neck Neoplasms ; surgery ; Hemangioma, Cavernous ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Thoracic Neoplasms ; surgery

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of warm needling at Yintang (GV 29) plus ginger-partitioned moxibustion in treating allergic rhinitis.Method Seventy patients with allergic rhinitis were randomized into a treatment group and a control group,35 cases each.The treatment group was intervened by warm needling at Yintang (GV 29) plus ginger-partitioned moxibustion;the control group was treated with conventional medication.After 4-week treatment,the clinical efficacies of the two groups were compared.Result The markedly effective rate and total effective rate were respectively 83.9％ and 96.8％ in the treatment group,versus 56.3％ and 75.0％ in the control group,and the between-group differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05).Conclusion Warm needling at Yintang (GV 29) plus ginger-partitioned moxibustion is an effective approach in treating allergic rhinitis.

OBJECTIVETo establish a method of acutely isolating dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons for patch clamp study of single-channel.

METHODSDRG neurons of rats were acutely isolated by enzymatic digestion and mechanical blowing.

RESULTSThe acutely isolated DRG cells were easy to form the higher sealing resistance (> 5G Omega), which lowered noise level, so that pA-level single channel currents could be recorded.

CONCLUSIONThe acutely isolated DRG neurons in this study are an ideal for patch-clamp study of single-channel.

Animals ; Cell Separation ; methods ; Female ; Ganglia, Spinal ; cytology ; Ion Channel Gating ; physiology ; Ion Channels ; Male ; Neurons ; cytology ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of moxibustion plus tuina in treating early-stage diabetic foot. Method Seventy patients with early-stage diabetic foot were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 35 cases each. The control group was intervened by conventional medication, while the treatment group was additionally intervened by moxibustion plus tuina. After 2 treatment courses, the changes of ankle bronchial index (ABI) in the two groups were observed, and the clinical efficacies were compared. Result Patients in the treatment group showed significant improvement in symptoms, and the total effective rate was 96.9%. The total effective rate was 75.8% in the control group. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Moxibustion plus tuina is safe and effective in treating diabetic foot. With significant Chinese medicine feature and acceptable to patients, this method is a good choice in treating early-stage diabetic foot.

Objective To explore the imaging features and dynamic CT findings of primary adrenocortical carcinoma and evaluating its clinical value.Methods All 11 cases patients with primary adrenocortical carcinoma confirmed by surgical pathology underwent spiral CT plain scanning and two phases dynamic enhancement scanning before operation.Contrast injection was done by using nonionic Omnipaque at a flow rate of 3 ml/s with a power injector.The CT images were reviewed and analysed retrospectively in comparison with surgical and pathological results.Results Five of 11 lesions were located in the right adrenal gland,6 in the left.The diameter of the tumors was 4.1—16.0cm with 2 cases10.0cm.The attenuation of the plain scans,two phases contrast scans was 21.9—46.7 HU(with a mean value of 35.3 HU),30.5—65.8 HU(mean value 47.1 HU),and 52.6— 97.0 HU(mean value 74.2 HU),respectively.Four were in the shape of capsule,6 reticular,1 slightly inhomogeneous masses.The irregular tumor vessels of 6 reticular masses were seen in the artery phase. Conclusion The dynamic CT features of primary adrenocortical carcinoma were obvious,dynamic SCT scans could suggest the diagnose.

Objective To compare the clinical choosing principles of sedated colonoscopy with con-ventional colonoscopy. Methods Outpatients who were willing to accept colonoscopy with or without seda-tion were prospectively recruited,which were assigned to sedated colonoscopy group(n=362)and conven-tional colonoscopy group(n=323). All patients and endoscopists were asked to answer a self-administered questionnaire. The colonoscopy completion,operation time,procedure-related discomfort,and questionnaire results of the two groups were compared and statistically analyzed. Results The completion rate was 98. 9%in the sedated colonoscopy group(358/362)and 89. 8% in the conventional colonoscopy group(290/323) ( P=0. 337 ). The operation time of sedated and conventional group were( 5. 60 ± 3. 25 ) minutes and (7. 71 ± 5. 70)minutes respectively(P<0. 001). And the average cost was CNY 886. 54 per patient in se-dated group and CNY 386. 00 per patient in the conventional group. Patient satisfaction score of conventional group and sedated group were 4(3-4)and 3(2-3)points(P<0. 001),while endoscopist satisfaction score was 4(3-4)and 4(4-4)(P<0. 001). A total of 354 patients(97. 79%)in the sedated group and 225 pa-tients(69. 66%)in the conventional group showed willingness to repeat the identical colonoscopy( P <0. 001). Patients who were male(P=0. 035),having no past abdominal operations(P<0. 001),or no ab-dominal pain during colonoscopy( P =0. 015 )in the conventional group preferred to repeat conventional colonoscopy. Conclusion Although the examination time of conventional colonoscopy is longer than sedated colonoscopy,it could reduce anesthesia risk and the cost. Conventional colonoscopy remains an irreplaceable examination of colorectal diseases in developing countries. Physicians should not only focus on patients'com-fort during endoscopy,but also help patients make a decision based on their actual situation and endoscopic indications to make the best of medical resources.

OBJECTIVETo determine the genetic relationships between different Vibrio cholerae isolates in Shenzhen from 1993 to 2002.

METHODSChromosomal DNA from 60 isolates was digested in seakem gold agrose with restriction enzyme Not I and plugs were then analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns of V. cholerae isolates were clustered using BioNumerics software.

RESULTS39 distinctive PFGE patterns were identified with each pattern having 20 to 30 bands. Most PFGE patterns were divided into cluster A or cluster B.

CONCLUSIONThe closely related pandemic clone clusters of V. cholerae strains did exist in Shenzhen. PFGE of V. cholerae could be used for active surveillance and tracking for cholerae.

China ; epidemiology ; Cholera ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; methods ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; Vibrio cholerae ; classification ; genetics

OBJECTIVEThis study was undertaken to observe the change in the local level of angiotensin II (Ang II) and the expression of its corresponding receptors AT1 and AT2 during wound healing, and explore the possible role of Ang II in wound healing .

METHODSA model of full-thickness cutaneous wound was developed on the back of C57/BL6 mice. Specimens were taken from the wound of each mouse on the day 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15 after wounding. The change in the generation of Ang II in wounded tissue during the healing process was detected with ELISA. The proliferation and the apoptosis of cells were detected by bromodeoxyuridine (Brdu) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL) method in wounded skin during the healing process, respectively. The cellular localization and the mRNA level change of Ang II receptors in wounded tissue during healing were detected with immunostaining and RT-PCR.

RESULTSAng II produced in wounded skin was increased in the first 7 days to reach the peak, and then gradually decreased during wound healing. BrdU labeling index was increased gradually in the first 7 days to reach the peak, and then gradually decreased during wound healing. The number of TUNEL-positive cells was increased slowly in the first 7 days after wounding. The increase in the number of TUNEL-positive cells was more markedly after epithelization of the wound. In normal mice, AT1 and AT2 receptor were found positively expressed in the whole epidermal layer, while positive expression was only found in the endothelial cells of the capillary vessels within the dermal layer, and positive expression was also found in appendages of the skin, i. e. hair follicle, sweat gland and sebaceous gland respectively. Positive staining signal of both AT1 and AT2 receptors were increased in the first 7 days to reach the peak, then gradually decreased. Expression of AT2R was increased again following the epithelization of wound. The result of RT-PCR showed that the expression of both AT1 and AT2 receptors was detectable, and AT1 receptor was increased in the first 7 days to the peak, and then gradually decreased during wound healing, while AT2 receptor expression reached its peak value on day 7, then gradually decreased, and increased again following the epithelization of wound.

CONCLUSIONSThese results indicate that Ang II participate in wound repair and related to remolding in the late stage of wound healing through the change in production of angiotensin II and expression of AT1 and AT2 receptors. AT1 receptor might be closely associated with cell proliferation, while AT2 receptor might play a role in cell apoptosis and remolding during wound healing.

Angiotensin II ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Receptors, Angiotensin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Skin ; injuries ; metabolism ; pathology ; Wound Healing ; physiology

Objective To investigate the effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine-2C subunit receptor (5-HT 2C R)on long-term potentiation (LTP)of V1M region visual cortex of form deprivation adult amblyopia rats. Methods Sixteen two weeks old Sp-argue Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control group and monocular form deprivation group,with 8 rats in each group. The rats in the normal control group were not given any intervention;the rats in the monocular form deprivation group were sutured the right eye lid to establish the monocular form deprivation amblyopia model. All rats were fed for 6 weeks after establishing the model successfully,then the rats in the two groups were sacrificed and the coronal examination of 400 μm thick cortical brain slices were incubated in artificial cerebrospinal fluid artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF). According to the difference of drugs in ACSF,the visual cortex slices of rats in normal control group were selected as group A;the contralateral visual cortex slices of the deprivation eye were divided into group B,group C,group D and group E;the ipsilateral visual cortex slices of the deprivation eye were divided into group F,group G,group H and group I. The ACSF of group A,B and F did not added any drugs;the ACSF of group C and group G were added with physiological saline;the ACSF of group D and group H were added with 10 μmol · L - 15-hydroxytryptamine hydrochloride;the ACSF of group E and group I were added with 10 μmol·L - 1 SB 242084 and 10 μmol·L - 15-hydroxytryptamine hydrochloride. The electrophysiology experiment was per-formed in all of the visual cortex slices by extracellular microelectrode recording and the visual cortex fidd postsynaptic poten-tial(fPSP)slope of V1M region of the visual cortex was recorded. Results The fPSP in group A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I was (198. 1 ± 13. 5)％,(106. 3 ± 8. 3)％,(106. 3 ± 8. 3)％,(157. 1 ± 9. 7)％,(102. 6 ± 4. 7)％,(144. 5 ± 2. 9)％,(144. 5 ± 2. 9)％,(192. 2 ± 8. 6)％ and (129. 7 ± 13. 5)％,respectively. There was statistic difference in fPSP slope of visual cortex a-mong the group A,B,F(P < 0. 001);the fPSP slope of visual cortex of rats in group A was significantly higher than that in the group B and group F(P < 0. 001);the fPSP slope of visual cortex of rats in group B was significantly lower than that in the group F(P < 0. 001). The fPSP slope of visual cortex in group D was significantly higher than that in the group C (t = - 10. 833,P < 0. 001);the fPSP slope of visual cortex in group H was significantly higher than that in the group D and group G(t = - 6. 841,- 10. 616;P < 0. 001). The fPSP slope of visual cortex in group E was significantly lower than that in the group D and group I(t = 11. 872,- 3. 910;P < 0. 001,P < 0. 05);the fPSP slope of visual cortex in group I was signifi-cantly lower than that in the group H(t = 9. 911,P < 0. 001). Conclusion Monocular deprivation can lead to the dysfunction of bilateral visual cortex neurons and 5-hydroxytryptamine hydrochloride can reverse this phenomenon through 5-HT2C R.