OBJECTIVETo observe the acupoint distribution and clinical efficacy of lumbar disc herniationi (LDH) with different sensitive types.

METHODSEighty patients with LDH were randomly divided into a heat-sensitive moxibustion group (group A), a heat-sensitive acupuncture group (group B), a force-sensitive acupuncture group (group C) and a force-sensitive moxibustion group (group D), 20 cases in each one. In the group A and the group B, moxibustion and acupuncture were applied at two or three heat-sensitive acupoints separately. In the group C and the group D,acupuncture and moxibustion were used at two or three force-sensitive acupoints respectively. The treatment was given once a day, totally 10 times. The distribution law of the heat-sensitive acupoints and the force-sensitive acupoints and the change of M-JOA before and after treatment were recorded in the four groups.

RESULTSThe frequent heat-sensitive acupoints areas of LDH were at Yaoyangguan (GV 3), Dachangshu (BL 25), Zhiyang(GV 9), Guanyuanshu(BL 26) and Weizhong(BL 40). The major force-sensitive acupoints areas were at Shenshu (BL 23), Dachangshu (BL 25), Tianshu (ST 25), Guilai (ST 29) and Weizhong (BL 40). After treatment, the heat-sensitive acupoints in the group A and the group B were all reduced than those before treatment and the force-sensitive acupoints in the group C and the group D were declined as well (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The M-JOA scores were obviously lower than those before treatment in the four groups (all P < 0.01). The score in the group A was reduced more apparently than that in the group B (P < 0.05). The score in the group C was declined more markedly than that in the group D (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThere are diverse acupoints for LDH patients due to different sensitive types. All forms of stimulation can change the functional state of acupoints. Moxibustion is more suitable for heat-sensitive acupoints and acupuncture is optimal for force-sensitive acupoints.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo analyze the relationship between symptoms and signs of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and the patients' quality of life (QOL).

METHODSA total of 492 TMD patients were included in this study. The clinical examination results were recorded using Fricton index of temporomandibular joint function. "Visual analog scale (VAS) evaluation of QOL disturbance" was designed to quantitate patients' QOL, to evaluate the degree that the patients QOL was affected.

RESULTSChewing, daily life and emotion among all 8 items of QOL were frequently affected by TMD, and joint clicking had the least influence on QOL. Intermittent closed lock had more severe interference with QOL than joint clicking only. Severe and moderate pain or limited mouth opening affected the QOL more severely than mild pain or mild limited mouth opening. The simple linear relationship between Fricton index and patients' QOL was poor (r < 0.4).

CONCLUSIONSPain is the most frequently seen symptom in TMD. TMD could affect patients' QOL, including both physical and social-psychological functions. The results suggest that the patients' QOL as well as TMD symptoms and signs should be considered in the management of TMD.

Adult ; Facial Pain ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Quality of Life ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders ; complications

Objective To explore the role of LiCl in microbial suppurative keratitis .Methods Western-blot assay was used to detect the efficacy of LiCl .Inflammatory cytokine levels were examined using Real-time PCR .Cell apoptosis was detected by using TUNEL and flow cytometry assays .Results LiCl promoted corneal resistance to PA infection .Real-time PCR data showed that LiCl enhanced IL-10 expression ,but suppressed TNF-expression .TUNEL and flow cytometry data showed that LiCl promoted the apoptosis of infiltrating cells .Conclusion LiCl promoted host resistance against microbial suppurative keratitis ,via regulating in-flammatory cytokine expression and cell apoptosis .

Objective To construct a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) adenovirus vector targeting P85 and protein kinase B1 (PKB1/Akt1) and study its effects on the growth of SGC-7901 human gastric adenocareinoma cells. Methods P85 and Aktl shRNA expression frames were subcloned to pGSadeno adenovirus vector with homologous recombination technology to construct pGSadeno-P85 + Akt1 (rAd5-P + A) vector. After screening and amplification, the recombinant adenovirus vector was digested with PacI and transfected into SGC-7901 cells and then its titer and transfection efficiency were detected with fluorescent microscope. P85 and Akt1 mRNA protein expression was identified with real-time PCR and Western blot. The proliferative activity of tumor cells was evaluated with MTr assay and flow cytometry in vitro, rAd5-HK and rAd5-P + A mediated by adenovirus were injected into the established subcutancous SGC-7901 gastric adenocarcinoma in nude mice. During the observation period of 21 days, tumor volume was measured every 3 days to further testify the anti-tumor effect of rAd5-P + A on the SGC-7901 gastric adenocarcinoma cells and cell in situ apoptosis was detected with TUNEL assay. Results The adenovirus vector rAd5-P + A was successfully constructed and it dramatically downregulated P85 and Akt1 mRNA expression in SGC-7901 gastric adenocarcinoma cells. Compared with a control group of SGC-7901 cells and cells transfected with general adenovirus rAd5-HK as control, P85 and Akt1 protein expression 48 h and 72 h after rAd5-P + A transfection was decreased by 57.5% and 63. 7%, 67. 8% and 75.6% with statistical significance(P = 0. 005, P = 0. 003). Cell proliferative activity in rAd5-P + A transfected cells was suppressed from the second day (P <0. 001) and the decreased P85 and Akt1 expression was accompanied by 5.9% -7. 1% decrease of S phase fraction and 12. 1% - 13.7% increase of G0/G1 phase. The tumor volume of rAd5-P + A treated group was smaller than that of the control and rAd.5-HK group with statistical significance (F = 9. 871, P = 0. 025) . Moreover, rAd5-P + A could induce cell in situ apoptosis. Conclusions Adenovirus-mediated targeting P85 and Akt1 shRNA can inhibit the growth of SGC-7901 human gastric adenocarcinoma cells and this may provide a new strategy of combination gene therapy in gastric adenocarcinoma.

Objective To construct a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) adenovirus vector targeting Aktl (protein kinase B1, PKBI/Aktl) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and study its effects on the invasion and metastasis of SGC-7901 human gastric adenocarcinoma cells. Methods Aktl and COX-2 shRNA expression frames were subcloned to pGSadeno adenovirus vector by homologous recombination technology to construct pGSadeno-Aktl+COX-2 (rAdS-A+C) vector. After screening and amplification, the recombinant adenovirus vector was digested with PacI and transfected into SGC-7901 cells, the titer and transfection efficiency were detected by fluorescent microscopy. Aktl and COX-2 mRNA and protein expression was identified by real-time PCR and Western blot. MMP-2 and MMP-9 contents in control group SGC-7901、rAd5-HK and treatment group rAdS-A+C were detected by ELISA assay and transwell assay analyzed cell invasion and metastasis ability. Results Adenovirus vector rAdS-A+C was successfully constructed and it dramatically down-regulated Aktl and COX-2 mRNA and protein expression in SGC-7901 gastric cancer cells. MMP-2 and MMP-9 contents in treatment group rAd5-A+C were respectively (39.7± 1.7) ng/ml, (31.3±3.6) ng/ml, and they were lower than those in control group SGC-7901 (278.4± 15.5) ng/ml, (225.4±15.1) ng/ml and rAd5-HK (275.5±2.1) ng/ml, (226.0±23.3) ng/ml (P= 0.01, P=0.021). Transwell assay showed treatment group rAd5-A+C significantly inhibited the invasion and metastasis of SGC-7901 gastric adenocacinoma cells. Conclusions Adenovirus-mediated targeting Aktl and COX-2 shRNA can inhibit the invasion and metastasis of SGC-7901 human gastric adenocarcinoma cells.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic value of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose ( 18 F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography ( PET/CT) in fever of unknown origin ( FUO) in a Chinese hospital .Methods:The records of 51 patients with FUO (32 men and 19 women;mean age 54 years with a range between 3 and 81 years) were analyzed retrospectively .All the patients were examined by 18 F-FDG PET/CT scan and the results were compared with the final diagnosis which was established by additional procedures including pathology , laboratory examination , and clinical follow-up for more than 3 months.The t test was used for statistical analysis .Results: A final diagnosis was established for 48 patients , including 32 patients with infectious diseases , 9 with malignancies , and 7 with non-infectious inflammatory diseases .By FDG PET scan alone , the rates of true positive , false positive , false negative, and true negative were 52.9%, 27.5%, 17.6%, and 2.0%, respectively.By FDG PET/CT scan, the rates of true positive, false positive, false negative, and true negative were 70.6%, 27.5%, 2.0%, and 0, respectively.18F-PET/CT had a sensitivity of 97.3%(36/37), specificity of 0 (0/14), and accuracy of 70.6%(36/51) in FUO, especially a high sensitivity and accuracy of 100%(9/9) in the diagnosis of malignant tumor .Moreover , the maximum standardized uptake value ( SUVmax ) in tumor was significant higher than that in infection (3.7 ±2.7 vs.7.7 ±3.5, P=0.001, t=3.6), which implied that SUVmax might be useful in differential diagnosis in FUO .Conclusion:FDG PET/CT is a valuable imaging tool for the identification and location of the potential lesion in FUO and is helpful for the etiological diagnosis , especially in the diagnosis of malignant lesions .

OBJECTIVETo compare differences of clinical therapeutic effect of heat-sensitive moxibustion with different doses for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

METHODSSixty cases of IBS were randomly divided into a saturated-dose group (30 cases) and a traditional-dose group (30 cases). Heat-sensitive moxibustion was applied in both groups. The acupoints that had the strongest heat-sensitive feeling were selected and treated by warm and suspended moxibustion with moxa stick. Disappearance of heat-sensitive feeling was taken as the sign of treatment time in the saturated-dose group, while the traditional-dose group was treated for 15 min each time. The treatment in both groups was given twice a day for first 5 days, and from the sixth day it was given once a day for continuous 25 times, totally 30 days. Clinical symptom scores and therapeutic effect before and after treatment in two groups were observed.

RESULTSAfter the treatment, the cured and markedly effective rate was 75.0% (21/28) in the saturated-dose group, which was inferior to 44.4% (12/27) in the traditional-dose group (P < 0.05). The clinical symptom scores, including diarrhea, abdominal distension and pain, were obviously reduced in two groups compared with those before the treatment (all P < 0.05). Compared with the traditional-dose group, the symptom scores of diarrhea and abdominal distension in the saturated-dose group were obviously decreased (0.87 +/- 0.13 vs 1.27 +/- 0.21, P < 0.01; 1.12 +/- 0.41 vs 1.32 +/- 0.26, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe moxibustion featured with disappearance of heat-sensitive feeling and saturated dose has better therapeutic effect than that with traditional-dose for treatment of IBS. As individual dynamic amount of moxibustion, disappearance of heat-sensitive and quantitation varies from person to person, which is one of the key factors to obtain the best curative effect.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the role of LiCl in modulating bacterial-mediated inflammation after Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection.Methods Western-blot was used to determine the efficacy of LiCl usage.The expression of inflammatory cytokines in Pseudomonas aeruginosa-infected macrophages and neutrophils was detected by qPCR.Cell apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry.Results Western-blot data showed that LiCl up-regulated the protein levels of p-GSK-3β(Ser 9)and β-catenin in macrophages and neutrophils,indicating the efficacy of LiCl usage.qPCR data indicated that LiCl enhanced the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines and suppressed the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in Pseudomonas aeruginosa-infected macrophages and neutrophils.Flow cytometry data indicated that LiCl could promoted the apoptosis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa-infected macrophages and neutrophils.Conclusion LiCl inhibited the Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced inflammation,via regulating the inflammatory cytokine expression and the apoptosis of inflammatory cells.

Objective To investigate the effects of CORM-2 via p38 mitogeu-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) signaling pathway on the expression of the mitochondrial fission protein 1 (Fisl) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mouse pulmonary macrophages.Methods The rat subculture alveolar macrophages were seeded on 96 well plates with 2 × 105/ml densities.After 24 hours of culture,it was divided into 4 groups by random number table method:normal control group (group C),group LPS (group L),CO releasing agent CORM-2 + LPS group (group LC),p38MAPK inhibitor SB203580 + CORM-2 + LPS group (group LCS).When the cells were incubated for 24 hours,the mitochondrial MDA content and SOD activity were determined by ELISA kit,the levels of HO-1、mitochondrial fission protein Fis1 and p38 were determined by Western blot,the expressions of HO-1 and mitochondrial fission protein Fis1 were detected by RT-PCR.Results Compared with the C group,the levels of MDA [(2.43 ±0.12) vs.(3.59 ±0.07)],HO-1 [(1.31±0.27) vs.(1.65±0.41)],Fis1 [(1.27±0.23) vs.(1.65±0.41)] andp38 [(1.01 ±0.24) vs.(1.36 ±0.17)] in group L were increased,and the activity of SOD [(81.7 ± 1.62) vs.(54.7 ± 1.62)] was decreased (P ＜ 0.05);Compared with the group L,the MDA content [(3.59 ± 0.07) vs.(3.08 ±0.52)] and the level of Fis1 [(2.01 ±0.35) vs.(1.48 ±0.39)] in group LC were down-regulated,and the levels of SOD [(54.7 ± 1.62) vs.(67.4 ± 1.32)]、and the expressions of HO-1 [(1.65±0.41)vs.(2.25±0.18)] andp38 [(1.36±0.17) vs.(1.78±0.23)] wereup-regulated (P ＜0.05).Compared with the group LC,the MDA content [(3.08 ±0.52) vs.(4.16 ±0.19)] and the expression of Fis1 [(1.48 ±0.39) vs.(1.96 ±0.31)] in group LCS were increased,and the level of SOD [(67.4±1.32)vs.(45.9±1.52)]、and the expressions of HO-1 [(2.25±0.18)vs.(1.78± 0.19)] and p38 [(1.78 ±0.23) vs.(1.12 ±0.29)] were decreased (P ＜0.05).Conclusions HO-1/CO system inhibits the expression of Fis1 in LPS-induced lung macrophages,which may be regulated by p38MAPK signaling pathway.

It is an important safeguard to realize TCM renovation,raise medical levels and fulfill TCM modernization by elevating information diathesis of TCM personnel.This paper introduced the contents of information diathesis,discussed the current situation of TCM person information diathesis and the importance of elevating their information diathesis.By different kinds of training,how to raise the information awareness,information acquisition ability and information morality of TCM information personnel were further expounded.