OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy and feasibility of dog days moxibustion plaster therapy in treatment of allergic rhinitis of different patterns/syndromes.

METHODSAllergic rhinitis of lung deficiency and invasion of cold, spleen qi deficiency and kidney yang deficiency, 56 patients for each pattern/syndrome were randomized into a plaster therapy group and a nasal spray group, 28 cases in each one. In the plaster therapy group, according to the pattern/syndrome differentiation, with literature retrieval method, 3 acupoints of high frequency utility in clinic were selected as one group in acupoint plaster therapy. For lung deficiency and invasion of cold pattern/syndrome, Feishu (BL 13), Fengmen (BL 12) and Hegu (LI 4) were selected. For spleen qi deficiency pattern/syndrome, Pishu (BL 21), Zusanli (ST 36) and Dazhui (GV 14) were selected. For kidney yang deficiency pattern/ syndrome, Shenshu (BL 23), Dingchuan (EX-B 1) and Bailao (EX-HN 15) were selected. Separately, on July 13, 2013, July 23, 2013, August 2, 2013 and August 12, 2013, the aucpoint plaster therapy was applied, 2 to 4 h (1 to 2 h for children) each time. In the nasal spray group, beclometasone dipropionate aqueous nasal spray, 2 presses one nostril each time, 2 to 3 times a day, continuously for 4 weeks. The symptom score and efficacy were compared before and after treatment in the patients of the two groups.

RESULTSThe symptom scores of 3 patterns/syndromes were all apparently improved after treatment as compared with those before treatment in the patients of the two groups (all P<0.05), and the result in the plaster therapy group was better than that of the nasal spray group (P<0.05, P<0.01). For lung deficiency and invasion of cold pattern/syndrome, the total effective rate was 87.3% (20/24) in the plaster therapy group, better than 84.6% (22/26) in the nasal spray group (P<0.05). For spleen qi deficiency pattern/syndrome, the total effective rate was 83.3% (20/24) in the plaster therapy group, obviously better than 76.9% (22/26) in the nasal spray group (P<0.05). For kidney yang deficiency pattern/syndrome, the total effective rate was 79.2% (19/24) in the plaster therapy group, better than 76.9% (22/26) in the nasal spray group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe dog days moxibustion plaster therapy achieves definite efficacy on allergic rhinitis at the acupoints selected based on the differentiation of different patterns/syndromes and the efficacy is better than beclometasone dipropionate aqueous nasal spray.

Acupuncture Points ; Administration, Cutaneous ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Animals ; Child ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Yang Deficiency ; drug therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy and complications of intradiscal electrothermal therapy for treatment of discogenic low back pain.

METHODSForty patients with discogenic low back pain were treated with intradiscal electrothermal therapy, and the changes in the VAS, functional status and complications after the treatment were analyzed. RESULTS The VAS score was decreased and the functional status improved obviously after the treatment, which caused no severe complications.

CONCLUSIONIntradiscal electrothermal therapy is safe and effective to rapidly achieve pain relief and obviously improve the functional status of patients with discogenic low back pain with few complications.

Adult ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperthermia, Induced ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; complications ; therapy ; Low Back Pain ; etiology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

[Objective]To investigate the effects of ghrelin on inflammatory signaling protein kinase B(Akt),nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)and inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS)in alveolar macrophage(AM).[Methods]24 Male SD rats were randomly divided into Sham,CLP,CLP+ghrelin,and Sham+ghrelin groups. Cecal ligation and puncture(CLP)was used to induce sepsis. Ghrelin(20 nmol/kg)was administered by intraperitoneal injection at 3 h and 15 h post-operation. Histopathological changes of lungs were observed and scored.AM were extracted from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF). Interleukin-1β(IL-1β),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-6(IL-6)in BALF were detected by ELISA. IL-1β,TNF-α,and IL-6 mRNA in AM were detected by qPCR.NF-κB p65,IκBα,p-IκBα,Akt,p-Akt and iNOS in AM were detected by immunofluorescence(IF)and Western blotting.[Results]The histologic score(6.7±0.8),BALF IL-1β[(146±12)pg/mL]and IL-6[(182±10)pg/mL]from CLP+ghrelin group were respectively 35.4%,44.5% and 46.42% lower than those from CLP group[(10.3±0.7),(263±17)pg/mL,and(273±5)pg/mL],P<0.05.No significant difference was found in BALF TNF-α between CLP group and CLP+ghrelin group.The IL-1β,TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA in AM from CLP+ghrelin group were respectively 54.38%,53.6% and 46.42% lower than those from CLP group,P<0.05. The nuclear NF-κB p65 and cytoplasmic p-IκBα,p-Akt and iNOS from CLP+ghrelin group were respectively 32.58%,45.42%,27.6% and 48.33% lower than those from CLP group,P<0.05. There was no significant difference in all data between Sham group and Sham+ghrelin group.[Conclusion]Ghrelin can decrease the activity of inflammatory signaling proteins Akt,NF-κB and iNOS in AM,therefore restricts AM expressing pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β,TNF-α,and IL-6,thus alleviates sep-sis-induced acute lung injury(ALI).

ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between marital status and the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment （MCI） and dementia in the community dwelling old adults， so as to provide sociological data basis for the prevention and control of cognitive impairment. MethodsPeople aged 65 and above in urban and rural areas of Hubei Province were selected by cluster random sampling， and face-to-face interviews were conducted in community health service centers to complete general investigation and neuropsychological evaluation， as well as clinical physical examination and laboratory examination. The diagnostic expert panels， including two neuroscientists and two neuropsychologists with specialized knowledge of dementia， diagnosed MCI and dementia according to Petersen's MCI standard and Chinese Diagnostic guidelines for dementia and Cognitive impairment. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation between marital status and MCI and dementia in different age groups. ResultsDuring 2018~2020， 8 221 people completed the full neurocognitive assessment and clinical physical examination， with an average age of （71.96±5.895） years， and 1 953 people， accounting for 23.75% of the total number， were without spouses. The crude prevalence of MCI and dementia in HMACS were 25.98%， 95%CI （24.99%， 26.98%） and 7.24%， 95%CI （6.68%，7.80%）， respectively in total participants. After standardization for age and sex using data from the 2010 population census in Hubei Province， the prevalence of MCI and dementia were 26.28% and 6.98%.The prevalence of MCI and dementia in non-spouse ［28.07%， 95%CI （26.08%， 30.06%）；12.45%， 95%CI （10.99%， 13.91%）］ was significantly higher than that in spouse ［22.85%， 95%CI（21.81%， 23.89%； 5.62%， 95%CI （5.05%， 6.19%）］. Multivariable logistic regression model showed that the rates of MCI and dementia for married men aged 65~69 ［P=0.028， OR=0.639，95%CI（0.429， 0.952）］ and above 80 years ［P=0.004，OR=0.460， 95%CI （0.269， 0.785）］ were significantly lower than those of widowed men. However， there was no statistical difference between the presence or absence of spouses and the prevalence of MCI and dementia in older women. ConclusionsThe prevalence of MCI and dementia is higher in older adults without spouses. Especially for men aged 65~69 and 80 and above， having spouses is important to protect cognitive function.

Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf, an important medicinal and food fungus, is well known in East Asia. Due to growing market demand, long cultivation period, and consumption of pine trunk during cultivation, developing alternative methods for producing P. cocos and/or its active components is of interest. In the present study, the effects of different culture methods on biomass and accumulation of four triterpenoids were investigated. The ethanol extract of fermented mycelium (EFM) was orally administered to rats. Urine output and concentrations of electrolytes (Na, K, and Cl) were measured. Our results showed that mycelia grew better under continuous shaking culture condition (7.5 g DW·L), and higher triterpenoid levels were accumulated in two-stage culture (112 mg·L, 2.03%). The optimal starting time of static culture for triterpenoid yield was 4 d after shaking culture. Single administration of middle and high dose of EFM significantly increased urine output, Na and Cl excretion, and Na/K ratio. These results suggested that ethanol extract of cultured mycelia showed significant diuretic activity in rats and two-stage culture of P. cocos could be an alternative way to produce mycelia and triterpenoids.
Animals ; Biomass ; Diuretics ; pharmacology ; Mycelium ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Rats ; Triterpenes ; metabolism ; Wolfiporia ; chemistry ; growth & development

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the spatial patterns of the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control rates of dyslipidemia at the provincial level in China. METHODS: A national and provincial representative cross-sectional survey was conducted among 178,558 Chinese adults in 31 provinces in mainland China in 2018-2019, using a multi-stage, stratified, cluster-randomized sampling design. Subjects, as households, were selected, followed by a home visit to collect information. Both descriptive and linear regression procedures were applied in the analyses. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of dyslipidemia was 35.6%, and wide geographic variations of prevalence, treatment, and control rates of dyslipidemia were identified among 178,558 eligible participants with a mean age of 55.1 ± 13.8 years. The highest-lowest difference regarding the provincial level prevalence rates were 19.7% vs. 2.1% for high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, 16.7% vs. 2.5% for high total cholesterol, 35.9% vs. 5.4% for high triglycerides, and 31.4% vs. 10.5% for low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The treatment rate of dyslipidemia was correlated with the socio-demographic index ( P < 0.001), urbanization rate ( P = 0.01), and affordable basic technologies and essential medicines ( P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Prevailing dyslipidemia among the Chinese population and its wide geographic variations in prevalence, treatment, and control suggest that China needs both integrated and localized public health strategies across provinces to improve lipid management.
Humans ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Prevalence ; East Asian People ; Dyslipidemias/prevention & control* ; China/epidemiology* ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Risk Factors ; Triglycerides