OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of different acupoint combination on prevention and treatment of stress gastric ulcer and to search for a better acupoint combination.

METHODSThe theoretical basis and experimental research on treatment of stomach diseases with the combination of he-(sea) points and front-mu points as well as back-shu points and front-mu points are analyzed in this article.

RESULTSThe combination of he-sea points and front-mu points is suitable to be applied on acute diseases, febrile diseases and diseases of fu organs. While the combination of back-shu points and front-mu points is more applicable on chronic gastric diseases.

CONCLUSIONIt is proved that the combination of he-sea point (Zusanli ST 36) and front-mu point (Zhongwan CV 12) has reliable effect on prevention and treatment of stress gastric ulcer.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Stomach Ulcer ; physiopathology ; therapy

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of heat-sensitive moxibustion for adjuvant treatment of depression in Parkinson disease and explore its mechanism. Methods: A total of 80 patients with Parkinson disease coupled with depression were randomized into an observation group and a control group, with 40 cases in each group. The control group was treated with levodopa and benserazide hydrochloride tablets and paroxetine tablets, while the observation group was treated with heat-sensitive moxibustion on the basis of the medications in the control group. The treatment course was 2 months. The Hamilton depression scale-17 (HAMD-17), unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS) and Parkinson's disease quality of life questionnaire-39 (PDQ-39) were scored before and after the treatment, and the efficacy was evaluated after treatment. Levels of patients' serum dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were detected before and after the treatment. Results: After treatment, the total effective rate of the observation group was higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). The HAMD-17 scores in the two groups decreased significantly after treatment (both P<0.05), and the score in the observation group was obviously lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The component scores and total scores of UPDRS in both groups decreased significantly (all P<0.05), and the scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (all P<0.05). The score of PDQ-39 in the observation group decreased significantly (P<0.05), and was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the serum DA and 5-HT levels in the observation group increased significantly (both P<0.05) and the TNF-α and IL-6 levels decreased significantly (both P<0.05), which were statistically different from those in the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Heat-sensitive moxibustion has certain auxiliary effect in treating depression in Parkinson disease, significantly improving clinical symptoms and the quality of life, which may be related to the up-regulation of DA and 5-HT levels and down-regulation of TNF-α and IL-6 levels.

OBJECTIVETo develop a RP-HPLC method for determination of three glycosides in Swertia punicea.

METHODChromatographic column: Alltimal C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm). Mobile phase: methanol-water (including 0.05% H3PO4), and gradient elution. Flow rate: 1 mL x min(-1). Wavelength: 254 nm. Column temperture: 30 degrees C.

RESULTThe calibration curves of gentiopicroside, mangiferin and swertrianolin were in good linearity over the range of 31.3-281.7, 0.31-2.78, 0.55-4.91 microg, (r = 0.9996, 0.9993, 0.9995). The average recoveries were 103.36%, 101.42% and 97.39%, with RSD less then 3% (n = 5).

CONCLUSIONIt is a simple and sensitive meathod in controlling the quality of S. punicea.

Calibration ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; standards ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Glycosides ; analysis ; Iridoid Glucosides ; Iridoids ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results ; Swertia ; chemistry ; Xanthones ; analysis

Objective To observe the influence of exterior-interior meridian acupoint selection on hippocampal cell apoptosis and c-Jun N-terminal kinase ( JNK) in ischemia-reperfusion injury rats, and to explore the possible protective mechanism for ischemia-reperfusion injury. Methods One hundred and twenty SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group (SH), model group (I/R), electroacupuncture (EA) group and JNK inhibitor SP600125 ( SP) group. The ischemia-reperfusion model was established by occlusion of middle cerebral artery with intraluminal thread. EA group was given EA on acupoints of Zusanli ( ST 36) , Sanyinjiao ( SP 6) , Chize ( LU 5) , Hegu ( LI 4) , once a day, based on the method of exterior-interior meridian acupoint selection. We observed the neurological behavioral changes by Longa neurological function standard, detected the activation of phosphorylated JNK ( p-JNK) by immunohistochemical method and examined the hippocampal apoptotic index by TUNEL method. Results The neurologic impairment scores of EA group and SP group were lower than I/R group (P<0.05) . Apoptotic index of I/R group was higher than SH group (P<0.01) and that of EA group and SP group was lower than I/R group (P <0.05) . The level of p-JNK in I/R group was higher than SH group ( P <0.01) and that of EA group and SP group was lower than I/R group ( P <0.05). Conclusion Exterior-interior meridian acupoint selection therapy has certain effect on alleviating neurologic impairment and reducing apoptosis in ischemia- reperfusion injury rats, and the mechanism might be associated with the inhibition of the activation of JNK signaling pathway.

Programmed death-1 (PD-1) receptor and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) as a pair of T cell immune response co-stimulatory molecules play a negative role in adoptive immunity by inhibiting T lymphocyte function. Blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathway has been a hot spot of research and treatment of cancer. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer, and there is no approved targeted therapy. Immunotherapy represented by PD-1/PD-L1 blockers, is getting widely studied due to the medical potential of therapy for TNBC. Thereinto, the clinical researches of the monoclonal antibodies against PD-1 or PD-L1 have brought a promising future for the treatment of metastatic TNBC. Currently, there are several trials with anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies and their combination with other therapies in salvage, neoadjuvant, and adjuvant settings on going. In this article, the authors review the current studies about potential value of PD-1/PD-L1 in prognosis, prediction, and treatment in TNBC, intending to cast insight on future basic and clinical studies.

Objective: To explore the perceptions and current practice barriers of Chinese physicians who engage in cancer diagnosis and treatment from third-grade Class A hospitals regarding cancer patients' perceptions of fertility preservation (FP). Methods: A study was conducted in physicians from 4 third-grade Class A hospitals with different clinical specialties assisting cancer patients through a structured self-report questionnaire between January 2017 and December 2017. A total of 179 medical oncologists, 77 radiation oncologists and 79 surgeons were included. Their information on gender, age, title, education background and perceptions of FP was obtained. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the correlation between the recommendation of FP and risk factors. Results: There were 335 physicians, including 88 male physicians and 247 female physicians, with an average age of (35.94±6.27) years (range from 23-59 years) in the current study. Although 96.4% of the physicians knew that chemotherapy and radiation had a profound effect on impairment of fertility and 85.1% of them thought it was necessary to recommend FP, only 28.1% of them gave FP-related recommendations to the cancer patients. The oncologists and surgeons, female physicians, and those with higher professional titles and education background were more likely to make the FP recommendation. Among 63.3% of the physicians knowing male FP, only 37.9% and 21.2% of them noted the exact methods and place for FP, respectively. Similarly, for the 65.1% of the physicians knowing female FP, the percentage was 49.9% and 24.5%, respectively. When it came to the barriers of FP decision-making, 32.8% of the oncologists reported their concerns on whether cancer patients were suitable to reproduce. Secondly, the physicians honestly admitted that they lacked expertise in FP and worried about that FP would delay cancer treatment. Conclusion: Physicians who engage in cancer diagnosis and treatment lack the awareness and knowledge background of FP recommendation for cancer patients. It is important to improve the perceptions of cancer patients' FP through standardize training.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effectiveness and safety of external applying Compound Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F. (TwHF) in relieving joint pain in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

METHODSIn this double-blinded, randomized multicenter trial, a total of 174 moderately active RA patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to the treatment group (treated with Compound TwHF, 87 cases) and the placebo control group (87 cases). Compound TwHF or placebo was externally applied in painful joints, 20 g each time, once per day for 8 weeks. Self-reported joint pain relief was taken as a primary effective indicator. Visual analogue scale for pain (VAS), disease activity score of 28 joints (DAS28), VAS for general health (GH) were evaluated before treatment, at week 4 and after treatment. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and hypersensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP) were tested before and after treatment. Menstrual changes in females were observed during treatment. Skin irritation occurred during the recording process was assessed using skin irritation strength. Intention to treat (ITT) was statistically analyzed.

RESULTSThe joint pain relief rate in the treatment group was 90.8% (79/87 cases), higher than that in the placebo control group (69.0%, 60/87 cases; P = 0.001). VAS pain score, DAS28, VAS for GH score were significantly improved in the two groups at week 4 of treatment and after treatment, as compared with before treatment (P < 0.01). ESR and hs-CRP levels significantly decreased in the treatment group after treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). No difference was found in post-treatment VAS pain score, DAS28, VAS for GH score, ESR, or hs-CRP between the two groups (P > 0.05). Eight adverse events occurred in the treatment group (5 skin allergy, 1 intolerance of medical odor, and 2 mild liver injury), while 3 adverse events occurred in the placebo control group (2 skin allergy, 1 mild liver injury). There was no statistical difference in adverse event between the two groups (P > 0.05). No menstrual change occurred in the treatment group.

CONCLUSIONExternal applying Compound TwHF was an effective and safe way to relieve-joint pain of RA patients, which could be taken as an adjuvant therapy.

Arthralgia ; drug therapy ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Phytotherapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Tripterygium

Objective To accurately measure the motion angels of hand-related joints during manipulations of acupuncture needle thrusting-pulling and twirling, so as to provide quantitative references for acupuncture manipulation. Methods Six acupuncturists with over 3-year acupuncture experience and one volunteer were enrolled in this study. The angles of the forearm, wrist, metacarpophalangeal & interphalangeal joints of the thumb and index finger in each acupuncturist when performing thrusting-pulling and twirling manipulation were measured by the video motion capture (VMC) system, and the different ranges of above-mentioned angles among the 6 acupuncturists when performing 10 trails of thrusting-pulling and twirling manipulations on the volunteer’s thigh were compared. Results There was no significant difference in the ranges of relevant hand-related angles in the acupuncturist (P>0.05). The manipulation of thrusting-pulling was mainly managed by the wrist joint, with the range of (7.23±1.87)°, while the manipulation of twirling was mainly managed by the interphalangeal joints of the index finger, and the range of the first and second interphalangeal joints of the index finger was (28.33±2.18)°and (10.43±1.69)°, respectively. Conclusions The VMC can be a reliable method to quantify the parameters of acupuncture manipulation. Different acupuncture manipulation shows particular variation of the joint angles, which can be used as a reference to quantify the acupuncture manipulation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the promoter methylation status of tumor suppressor gene and the relationship between promoter methylation and mRNA, protein expression of tumor suppressor gene in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) cell lines.

METHODSPromoter methylation status of E-cad, p16, RASSF1A, DAPK, and MGMT was determined by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) in ACC cell lines, ACC-2, ACC-3, and ACC-M. E-cad, p16 protein and mRNA expression was also examined by IHC and RT-PCR in 3 ACC cell lines.

RESULTSAll the three salivary ACC cell lines exhibited E-cad, p16 promoter methylation, but no methylation of RASSF1A, DAPK, and MGMT was found. There was p16 protein and mRNA expression but no E-cad expression in 3 ACC cell lines.

CONCLUSIONSThe results suggest that in ACC cell lines, promoter methylation of E-cad, p16 is a common event, and promoter methylation may be one of the major mechanism for inactivation of E-cad.

Cadherins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; genetics ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; DNA Methylation ; Humans ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Salivary Gland Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology

Objective To propose a method for analyzing the hip joint signals during human walking based on Hilbert-Huang transform (HHT) method and verify its feasibility. Methods First, the hip joint angles of one healthy subject were measured by using the hip joint measuring platform composed of acceleration sensors and gyroscopes. Second, all intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) at different scales, which could be further analyzed and combined, were obtained by applying the ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) to original signals. Finally, the Hilbert spectrum of original signals were plotted and analyzed. Results The signals representing different motion modes as well as gait characteristics indicated by rotating track of the hip joint were obtained. The Hilbert spectrum could show the intra-wave frequency modulation in the main motion mode and the characteristics of walking frequencies. Conclusions This method can be used in rehabilitation and treatment of patients with gait diseases. By using this method, the characteristic signals of the hip joints at different frequency scales can be effectively decomposed, and the post-processing signals can be filtered and centrally corrected, so as to adaptively analyze gait signals of the patients.