Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Tennis Elbow ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of acupuncture at "Feishu" (BL 13) and "Lingtai" (GV 10) on distribution taxis of paclitaxel in mice with lung cancer to discuss targeted relationship between acupoints and corresponding viscera.

METHODSAccording to randomized digital table, 315 SPF-grade BALB/C female mice were divided into 7 groups: blank group (group A), model group (group B), medication group (group C), acupuncture at non-acupoint group (group D), acupuncture at Feishu group (group E), acupuncture at Lingtai group (group F) and acupuncture at Feishu and Lingtai group (group G), 45 mice in each one. Except the blank group, the remaining groups were treated with N-nitroso-tris-chloroethyl urea (NTCU) to establish the model of squamous-cell carcinoma. After model establishment, group A, group B and group C were not treated with acupuncture; group A and group B were treated with intraperitoneal injection of 0.9% sodium chlorvde solution by 6 mL/kg while group C was treated with intraperitoneal injection of paclitaxel by 6 mL/kg. The group D, group E, group F and group G were treated with acupuncture at non-acupoint, "Feishu" (BL 13), "Lingtai" (GV 10) and "Feishu" (BL 13) plus "Lingtai" (GV 10), respectively, then were intraperitoneally injected with paclitaxel by 6 mL/kg. The treatment was all given once a day for continuous 10 days. 15 min, 30 min, 1 h, 2 h, 8 h, 12 h and 24 h after the treatments, 6 mice in each group were randomly selected and sacrificed to collect samples of lung, liver, spleen, kidney and heart, etc. High performance liquid chromatography was applied to measure the concentration of paclitaxel in each organ (lung, liver, spleen, kidney and heart) at different time points.

RESULTS(1) The content of paclitaxel in lung, kidney and heart reached the peak at 2 h, then decreased significantly in group C, group D, group E, group F and group G; the content of paclitaxel in spleen showed downtrend at each time point. The content of paclitaxel in liver reached the peak at 2 h in group C and group D; the content of paclitaxel reached the peak at 8 h in group E, group F and group G. (2) The content of paclitaxel in lung in group E and group G was higher than that in group C and group D at each time point (all P < 0.01); the content of paclitaxel in lung in group F was higher than that in group C (P < 0.01) and group D (P < 0.01) only at time point of 2 h. The content of paclitaxel in lung in group G was higher than that in group F at each time point (all P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference between group G and group E (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at "Feishu" (BL 13) and "Lingtai" (GV 10) could influ- ence the metabolism of paclitaxel in lung-cancer mice, leading to distribution change in each organ. As a result, it could cause targeting effects, which is more significant at "Feishu" (BL 13) and "Lingtai" (GV 10).

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacokinetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacokinetics ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Paclitaxel ; pharmacokinetics ; Taxus ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of low-dose methylprednisolone on serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) level in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP).

METHODSA case-control study was conducted among 38 children with MPP who received treatment in the Affiliated Hospital of Yan'an University between January and December 2012, and who had not received glucocorticoids before hospitalization. They were randomly divided into methylprednisolone treatment (n=20) and conventional treatment groups (n=18). The methylprednisolone treatment group was administered with methylprednisolone (1 mg/kg·d) by intravenous drip for three days in addition to conventional treatment. Serum samples were collected from both groups before treatment and on days 4 and 7 of treatment. Twenty-five children who underwent physical examination in the healthcare clinic during the same period were randomly selected as a normal control group, and serum samples were collected on the same day that the physical examination was performed. Serum TNF-α levels in the three groups were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSOn admission, the methylprednisolone treatment and conventional treatment groups had significantly higher serum TNF-α levels than the normal control group (P<0.01), but there was no significant difference between the methylprednisolone treatment and conventional treatment groups. On days 4 and 7 of treatment, the methylprednisolone treatment group had significantly lower serum TNF-α levels than the conventional treatment group (P<0.05; P<0.01). On day 7 of treatment, there was no significant difference in serum TNF-α level between the methylprednisolone treatment and normal control groups, but the conventional treatment group still had a significantly higher serum TNF-α level than the normal control group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSLow-dose methylprednisolone can significantly decrease serum TNF-α level and inhibit inflammatory response in children with MPP, and may reduce damage caused by inflammatory response.

Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo observed efficacy differences of acupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) in rats with asthma and asthma with spleen-deficency, so as to investigate the therapeutic mechanism.

METHODSSixty SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups according to their weight, named as an asthma with spleen-deficency group (group A), an acupuncture on asthma with spleen-deficency group (group B), an asthma group (group C), an acupuncture on asthma group (group D) and a control group. The rat models with spleen-deficiency in the first two groups were set up by TCM, then the rats of asthma model in the first four groups were induced by egg albumin, but the control group was treated by the same dose of saline. The group B and the group D were both treated with acupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36), once each day for 8 days, and the other groups remained unhandled. The mRNA expressions of Fas and Bcl-2 in the lung tissues were detected by hybridization in situ and apoptosis was detected by TUNEL (terminal dexynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dutp nick end labeling).

RESULTSCompared with the control group, in both the group A and the group C, the expression of Fas mRNA significantly decreased, but the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA significantly increased (all P < 0.01), and eosinophils (EOS) counts significantly increased, but EOS apoptosis rate significantly decreased (all P < 0.01). Compared with the group C, in the group A, the expressions of Fas mRNA significantly decreased, but the expressions of Bcl-2 mRNA and EOS counts significantly increased (all P < 0.01). At the same time, compared with the corresponding asthma groups, in both acupuncture groups, Fas mRNA expression obviously increased, Bcl-2 mRNA expression was significantly reduced (all P < 0.01), EOS counts remarkably decreased and EOS apoptosis rate significantly increased (all P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in the expressions of Fas mRNA and Bcl-2 mRNA between the two acupuncture groups (both P > 0.05), but compared with group B,in the group D, EOS counts significantly decreased and EOS apoptosis rate significantly increased (both P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) can regulate the disorders of Fas mRNA and Bcl-2 mRNA expression in the state of both asthma and asthma with spleen-deficency, promote EOS apoptosis so as to inhibit the development of inflammatory reaction of asthma, showing that acupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) has certain advantages on regulation of related gene of EOS in asthma with spleen-deficency.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Asthma ; genetics ; immunology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Eosinophils ; cytology ; immunology ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; fas Receptor ; genetics ; immunology

Through analysis on sequencing of meridians and their muscle regions, their pertaining organs, run ning courses, linking and indications described in Zubi Shiyimai (Eleven Meridian of Foot and Hand), Yinyang Shiyimai (Eleven Meridian of Yinyang), Lingshu: Jingmai (Miraculous Pivot: Meridian) and Lingshu: Jinjing (Miraculous Pivot: Muscle Meridian), it is found that most of the indications of acupuncture in ancient time are symptoms of the muscle regions. 62.59% points of the national standard acupoints location close to tender points of the muscle regions, which indicates that the origin of early acupoints are tender points along the running courses of the muscle regions. Thus, it is concluded that meridians and their muscle regions have the same origin, which provides new train of thinking for a better comprehension of origin of meridians and collaterals.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; history ; China ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Meridians ; Muscles ; pathology ; Pain ; pathology ; Pain Management

BACKGROUNDThe feasibility and safety of endoscopic thyroidectomy were evaluated by an approach of systematic review of published studies in the past decade.

METHODSA database searching was performed on MEDLINE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, American College of Physicians Journal Club, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Both comparative and non-comparative studies about endoscopic thyroidectomy were selected and analyzed. For the comparative studies, RevMan 4.2 was used for statistical analysis; and for the non-comparative studies, data analysis was performed by SPSS 13.0.

RESULTSSeven comparative studies involving 367 patients (video-assisted thyroidectomy (VAT), 174 patients; conventional thyroidectomy (CT), 193 patients) were included in VAT-CT group. Age, gender, operative types, and pathological diagnosis were similar. Compared with CT, the mean operative time for VAT was significantly longer (VAT, 80.0 minutes; CT, 61.9 minutes, P < 0.01), but the postoperative hospital stay was shorter (VAT, 1.7 days; CT, 2.5 days, P < 0.01). The complication rate for VAT was 6.9%, while that for CT was 9.3% (P = 0.35). Three studies analyzed the postoperative pain and cosmetic evaluation, and indicated that the VAT group was superior to the CT group, but there was no significant difference after a meta-analysis. Three comparative studies involving 273 patients (totally endoscopic thyroidectomy (TET), 145 patients; CT, 128 patients) were included in TET-CT group and the results generally resembled that of VAT-CT group. There were 18 and 14 non-comparative studies reporting the results of VAT and TET, respectively. The mean operative time for VAT was 76.8 minutes compared with 135.8 minutes for TET. The postoperative hospital stay was 1.8 and 3.8 days for VAT and TET respectively. The rates of conversion to open surgery for VAT and TET were similar (VAT, 2.8%; TET, 3.9%, P = 0.105). The complication rate for VAT was 8.6%, while that for TET was 3.5% (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe feasibility and safety of endoscopic thyroidectomy were initially verified and accepted, and it should be considered as a valid option, offering some advantages to patients in terms of cosmetic results and postoperative distress.

Adult ; Endoscopy ; methods ; Humans ; Pain, Postoperative ; drug therapy ; Thyroidectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Video-Assisted Surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the best combination of monoclonal antibodies for the diagnosis of hepatobiliary intraepithelial neoplasia and/or cancer.

METHODSCK7, CK20, Villin, CEA, P53 and Ki-67 antigens were detected in the tissues of high-level hepatobiliary intraepithelial neoplasia and cancer by immunohistochemistry and the results were analyzed statistically.

RESULTSVillin was 100% positive in hepatobiliary intraepithelial neoplasia and/or cancer, while 100% negative in the adjacent normal bile duct epithelium. The expression rate of CEA was significantly lower in high-level hepatobiliary intraepithelial neoplasia tissues than in the cancer tissues (P<0.05). Ki-67 indexes were significantly lower in most of the high-level hepatobiliary intraepithelial neoplasia than in the cancer tissue (P<0.01). P53 indexes were also lower in high-level hepatobiliary intraepithelial neoplasia (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONDetection of multiple antigens (CEA, Villin, Ki-67 and P53) provides specific clues to the diagnosis of high-grade hepatobiliary intraepithelial neoplasia and/or cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; analysis ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; pathology ; Carcinoma in Situ ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Epithelium ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged

Based on traditional acupuncture-moxibustion treatment ideas, with differentiation of channels and collaterals as main part and feature, the important role of associated symptom and sign-based acupoint selection in acupuncture-moxibustion treatment is explained from angles of philosophy and medicine. Combined with clinical experience of acupuncture and moxibustion, the category of associated symptom and sign-based acupoint selection is explained in detail to make sure the accuracy of acupuncture-moxibustion differentiation. It could show uniqueness and advantage of theory and clinic in acupuncture-moxibustion and provide theoretical references in making acupuncture-moxibustion prescription to improve effectiveness of clinical treatment.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Moxibustion

OBJECTIVETo clarify if programmed cell death mechanisms induced by seizures take part in the necrotic process of neurons.

METHODSSeizure was induced by pilocarpine (P) in Sprague-Dawley adult rats which were allowed to recover for 24 or 72 hours before perfusion-fixation. Neuronal death was assessed by light microscopy with the hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and with in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL). Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression were examined by histochemistry.

RESULTSTwenty-four and 72 hours after seizures, neuronal death in hippocampus CA1 region was morphologically necrotic. TUNEL-positive and morphologically necrotic cells increased in the hippocampal CA1 region at 72 hours after seizures, there was significant difference compared with controls (P < 0.001). Bax expression was also increased in the hippocampal CA1 region at 72 hours after seizures (P < 0.001), but Bcl-2 expression did not increase, while Bcl-2/Bax ratio decreased.

CONCLUSIONSeizures induced late-onset neuronal necrosis was accompanied by programmed cell death mechanisms.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Hippocampus ; chemistry ; pathology ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; analysis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seizures ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein

Norepinephrine (NE) modulates synaptic transmission and long-term plasticity through distinct subtype adrenergic receptor (AR)-mediated-intracellular signaling cascades. However, the role of NE modulates glutamatergic long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) magnocellular neuroendocrine cells (MNCs) is unclear. We here investigate the effect of NE on high frequency stimulation (HFS)-induced glutamatergic LTP in rat hypothalamic PVN MNCs in vitro, by whole-cell patch-clamp recording, biocytin staining and pharmacological methods. Delivery of HFS induced glutamatergic LTP with a decrease in N2/N1 ratio in the PVN MNCs, which was enhanced by application of NE (100 nM).HFS-induced LTP was abolished by the blockade of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) with D-APV, but it was rescued by the application of NE. NE failed to rescue HFS-induced LTP of MNCs in the presence of a selective β1-AR antagonist, CGP 20712. However, application of β1-AR agonist, dobutamine HCl rescued HFS-induced LTP of MNCs in the absence of NMDAR activity. In the absence of NMDAR activity, NE failed to rescue HFS-induced MNC LTP when protein kinase A (PKA) was inhibited by extracellular applying KT5720 or intracellular administration of PKI. These results indicate that NE activates β1-AR and triggers HFS to induce a novel glutamatergic LTP of hypothalamic PVN NMCs via the postsynaptic PKA signaling pathway in vitro in rats.