Objective This study evaluated the effects of combined procedure of surgical treatment and cell transplantation on dilated cardiomyopathy. Methods Eight patients (5 men and 3 women) with moderate to severe mitral regurgitation from end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy underwent surgery. Four patients were in functional class (FC) Ⅳ, six were in FC Ⅲ. There age ranged from 15 to 56 years. The preoperative ejection fraction (EF) ranged from 0.15 to 0.32 (mean 0.26 ± 0.08). Mitral valve replacement was performed in 5 patients and mitral valve repair in 3. Auto-bone marrow monenuclear cells were harvested, isolated, washed, and resuspended for direct injection after surgical procedure. Results All patients survived and were discharged from the hospital. After a mean follow-up period of 18 months ( 12 - 42 months). Echocardiography showed postoperative ejection fraction and wall movement velocity increased after 6 months. Radionuclide ventriculography showed myocardial perfusion improved significantly. Conclusion Combined procedure of surgical treatment and cell transplantation led to significant improvement in cardiac function in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of acupuncture along affected meridian on the mem- brane metallo-endopeptidase (MME) gene expression of migraine patients without aura (MO) of Gan-yang hyperactivity syndrome (GYHS).

METHODSTotally 20 MO patients of GYHS were randomly assigned to the acupoint group (acupuncture along affected meridian) and the non-acupoint group, 10 cases in each group. Needling was performed once per day for 10 consecutive days. Gene chip technology was used to obtain two sets of gene expression profiles and analyzed using Gene Ontology (GO).

RESULTSIn the acupoint group, MME gene expression decreased after needling (P = 0.0023).That gene was rich in the beta-amyloid metabolic process (P = 3.16E-05) and the peptide metabolic process (P = 0.009612). Its expression was not seen in the non-acupoint group.

CONCLUSIONThe effect of point selection along affected meridian could be achieved possibly by regulating the MME gene expression.

Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Endrin ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Humans ; Meridians ; Migraine Disorders ; therapy ; Syndrome

With more and more attention and investment on acupuncture scientific researches, considerable outcomes and achievements has been acquired, but the shortcoming of low transformation rate of acupuncture research achievements is gradually exposed. Nowadays there is no related report on this problem, so based on achievement translational research in other areas and practical situation of acupuncture, the existing problems and solutions are analyzed. As a result, the existing problems include (1) the research content is mainly basic research and clinical research but less acupuncture device research, leading to limited transformation efficiency; (2) the evaluation system and transformation pattern are still needed to be perfect. The solutions are (1) to properly evaluate the research achievements of acupuncture, (2) to advocate the concept and method of translational medicine, (3) to reform the policy and system, and (4) to establish valid platforms covering research, outcomes and transformation.
Acupuncture ; economics ; legislation & jurisprudence ; manpower ; Biomedical Research ; Biotechnology ; economics ; legislation & jurisprudence ; manpower ; China ; Humans ; Technology Transfer

Objective:With proteomic approach,to find the differentially expressed proteins spots in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) of healthy people and intracerebral hemorrhage patients with liver yang forming wind syndrome(LYFWS) treated by Zhenganxifeng decoction(ZGXFD) to investigate the possible proteins of LYFWS and the cure mechanism of ZGXFD.Methods: 10 intracerebral hemorrhage patients with LYFWS were treated by ZGXFD for 7-10 days.10 healthy people were selected taken as healthy controls.10ml venous blood was drawed from every subjects and PBMCs were isolated from blood by using lymphocytes separation medium.The total proteins was extracted from PBMCs.The total proteins from either intracerebral hemorrhage patients or healthy controls were prepared by means of immobilized pH gradient based on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.After Coomassie brilliant blue G250 staining,gel-image analysis was performed by PDQuest.The differentially expressed proteins spots were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry(MALD I-TOF-MS).Results: Gel-image analysis revealed that there were 22 proteins spots expressed differentially.20 proteins spots were expressed differentially in the intracerebral hemorrhage patients with LYFWS as compared with healthy control,of which 8 proteins were down-regulated,7 proteins were up-regulated and 5 proteins were lost.After treated by ZGXFD,4 proteins were down-regulated,5 proteins were up-regulated and 2 proteins were lost,9 proteins weren’t expressed di erentially as compared with healthy control.8 of 20 di erentially expressed proteins spots in the intracerebral hemorrhage patients with LYFWS identi ed by MALDI-TOF-MS as compared with healthy control.These proteins are related to cell metabolism,signal transduction and so forth,of which 6 proteins were down-regulated,1 proteins were up-regulated and 1 proteins were lost.After treated by ZGXFD,2 proteins were down-regulated,1 proteins were lost,5 proteins weren’t expressed di erentially as compared with healthy control.Conclusion: 2-DE pro les of intracerebral hemorrhage patients with LYFWS in PBMCs had been established.The proteins of intracerebral hemorrhage patients with LYFWS had been identi ed,which were related to cell metabolism,signal transduction and so forth.This research presented that ZGXFD could adjust multiple di erentially expressed proteins of intracerebral hemorrhage patients with LYFWS.It was also indicated that the cure mechanism of ZGXFD was to regulate multitarget proteins.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Biomedical Research ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Humans ; Treatment Outcome

Metabonomics is a systematic science that mainly studies the dynamic changes of endogenous metabolites after a biological system is stimulated or disturbed. Its application in cardiovascular diseases has increasingly been explored, with an attempt to find valuable biomarkers and explore the underlying pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases by profiling the metabolism in these patients. This article summarized recent advances in this topic and outlines prospects for future developments.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Humans ; Metabolomics

Actuality of acupuncture researches and characteristics of acupuncture science are analyzed in the article. Three essential features of acupuncture researches are concluded as follows. Firstly, to adhere to the guidance of traditional Chinese medicine theory, and take whole and function as the proper introduction for the study; secondly, to bring into close association of basic studies and clinical practice, so as to achieve the fundamental objective of improving therapeutic effect; and thirdly, to attach importance to the influences of ancient culture on acupuncture, and bring the original advantages of acupuncture science into full play. In order to carry on and make innovation on acupuncture theories, principles, prescriptions, acupoints and techniques, multidisciplinary studies should be in combination with various objectives of studies in further researches.
Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Culture ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Meridian and collateral theory is the core of acupuncture theory. Simple using the syndrome differentiation system of internal medicine of TCM in clinical practice of acupuncture and moxibustion is difficult to reflect the core of acupuncture theories and characters of clinical acupuncture treatment. The establishment of clinical syndrome differentiation system of acupuncture should base on characters and laws of acupuncture and take the syndrome differentiation according to meridian and collateral theories as main body, syndrome differentiation according to location as key, syndrome differentiation according to eight principles as guidance, syndrome differentiation according to zang-fu theory as complementarity, and pay attention to application of acupoint specificity in clinic, so as to reflect unique character of acupuncture theory and insure the veracity of syndrome differentiation of acupuncture and efficacy of acupuncture treatment.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Moxibustion

The modern literatures on the diseases treated with acupuncture at Shenmen (HT 7) were collected. Using literature statistical analysis in bibliometrics, the common compatibility of Shenmen (HT 7) and the disease spectrum were analyzed so as to provide the references of the diseases that can be treated with acupuncture at Shenmen (HT 7). It was found that 39 kinds of diseases and symptoms, mainly nerve system disedses, could be treated with acupuncture at Shenmen (HT 7), including insomnia, depression, anxiety and dementia. Shenmen (HT 7) was seldom used alone. Instead, it was commonly used along with Baihui (GV 20), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Neiguan (PC 6), Sishencong (EX-HN 1) and Taicong (LR 3).
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; statistics & numerical data ; Bibliometrics ; Humans

The data mining technique is adopted to analyze characteristics and rules of acupoint and meridian selection of acupuncture-moxibustion for treatment of vertigo at different time periods in the ancient. The data is collected from literature regarding acupuncture-moxibustion from the pre-Qin period to the end of Qing Dynasty, so as to establish a clinical literature database of ancient acupuncture-moxibustion for treatment of vertigo. Data mining method is applied to analyze the commonly used meridians, acupoints and special acupoints in different dynasties, also possible rules are explored. Totally 82 pieces of prescription of acupuncture-moxibustion for treatment of vertigo are included. In the history the leading selection of acupoitns are Fengchi (GB 20), Hegu (LI 4), Shangxing (GV 23) and Jiexi (ST 41) while that of meridians are mainly three yang meridians of foot and the Governor Vessel, especially the acupoints on the Bladder Meridian of foot yangming had the highest utilization rate, accounting for 23.04%. The acupoint selection is characterized by special acupoint, accounting for 80.6%, among which the crossing points are the most common choice. Distal-proximal acupoints combination is the most frequent method. The results indicate that the ancient acupuncture-moxibustion for treatment of vertigo focused on acupoints in the yang meridians, and the specific acupoints play an essential role in prescription; also the principle of syndrome differentiation and selecting acupoints along the meridians could be seen.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; history ; Data Mining ; History, 18th Century ; History, 19th Century ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Medicine in Literature ; Moxibustion ; history ; Vertigo ; history ; therapy