China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Pneumoconiosis ; epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo explore effects and action mechanism of warm moxibustion on regulation of blood lipids and anti-atherosclerosis.

METHODSForty-one male Japanese big-ear white rabbits were randomly divided into a blank group (10 rabbits), a model group (10 rabbits), a moxibustion group (10 rabbits) and a medication group (11 rabbits). Normal diet was applied in the blank group while high-cholesterol diet combined with injection of bovine serum albumin were applied in the rest groups to establish rabbit model of atherosclerosis. After establishment, the model group was not intervened and warm moxibustion was applied in the moxibustion group at "Zusan-li" (ST 36) and "Shenque" (CV 8), 10 min per acupoint per day for continuous 4 weeks. The medication group was treated with intragastric administration of lovastatin capsule (3.6 mg/kg) for continuous 4 weeks. The level of blood lipids, such as total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and content of CD40 ligand (CD40L), soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) and expression of nuclear factor NF-kappaB were tested after 4 weeks.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, the moxibustion group and medication group could effectively reduce the contents of TC and low density lipoprotein (all P < 0.05), lower the level of sCD40L [(8.310 +/- 1.221) ng/mL in the model group, (7.097 +/- 0.846) ng/mL in the moxibustion group and (7.354 +/- 0.631) ng/mL in the medication group], reduce expression of CD40L [(0.235 +/- 0.179) mm2 in the model group, (0.072 +/- 0.079) mm2 in the moxibustion group and (0.039 +/- 0.015) mm2 in the medication group] and NF-kappaB [(0.145 +/- 0.052)mm2 in the model group, (0.052 +/- 0.012) mm2 in the moxibustion group and (0.036 +/- 0.013) mm2 in the medication group], indicating the significant difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.001). There was no statistical difference between the moxibustion group and medication group (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe warm moxibustion has great effect on regulation of blood lipids and anti-atherosclerosis, in which lowering expression of CD40-CD40L could be one of possible mechanisms to take effect of anti-atherosclerosis.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; blood ; therapy ; CD40 Antigens ; blood ; CD40 Ligand ; blood ; Humans ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Moxibustion ; methods ; Rabbits

The characterization and management of oral and maxillofacial spaces infections in diabetic patients were studied in order to determine the pattern of this clinical condition and formulate a management plan.There were 31 cases with average age of 61 years(s=9);the mean hospitalization time was 14 days(s=6);the average fasting blood glucose level on admission was 10.4 mmol/L.Of the 31 patients 20 were multiple-space infections and 11 were single-space infections.13 patients had major complications during admission.Odontogenic infection was the most common cause of the space infections.Streptococcus viridians and staphylococcus aureus were common organisms(5/19,4/19)identified through pus and/or blood cultures.Early surgical incision and drainage,perfect blood glucose control,intravenous antimicrobial therapy,preventing asphyxia and managing major complications are necessary and effective approaches for the management plan.

Objective:To explore the changes of NK and NKT cells and the expression levels of their activated, inhibitory receptors in the peripheral blood of patients with newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis ( RA), and to reveal the potiential role of NK and NKT cells played in the pathogenesis of RA.Methods:32 patients with new onset RA and 15 healthy controls were recruited.Activated and inhibitory NK and NKT cells in peripheral blood were quantified by flow cytometry.The frequency of spontaneous and stimulated IFN-γ+NK and NKT cells and CD107aγ+NK cells were examined.Finally,the potential relationship between the frequency of NK and NKT cells subsets and clinical indexes were analyzed.Results:The frequencies of NK cells in peripheral blood in RA patients were sig-nificantly lower than those in the controls ( P=0.026 ).The frequencies of NKG2D+, NKP46+activated NK cells and NKG2C+, NKG2D+,NKP46+activated NKT cells in RA patients were significantly higher than those in the controls (P=0.011,P=0.010,and P<0.001,P=0.032,P=0.001,respectively),whereas the frequencies of KIR2DL3+,KIR3DL1+and NKG2A+inhibitory NK cells and KIR2DL3+,NKG2A+inhibitory NKT cells in RA patients were significantly lower (P=0.002,P=0.002,P=0.014,and P=0.027,P=0.002,respectively).Moreover, the frequencies of stimulated IFN-γ+NK cells and IFN-γ+NKT cells, spontaneous and stimulated CD107 aγ+NK cells in RA patients were significantly higher than that in the controls ( P=0.037, P=0.004 and P=0.001, P=0.001, respectively).Furthermore,the frequencies of NK cells,NKG2Aγ+and KIR2DL3γ+inhibitory NK cells were correlated significantly with the values of DAS28 in RA patients (r=0.357,P=0.045;r=0.399,P=0.024;r=0.468,P=0.021,respectively).Conclusion:Lower frequencies of NK cells, higher frequencies of activated NK cells and activated NKT cells, lower frequencies of inhibitory NK cells and inhibitory NKT cells, and higher NK cell activity may induce the autoimmune reaction involved in the pathogenesis of RA.

Combined with the development of modem hospital pharmacy,in light of the present condition of the continuing education for the hospital pharmacists,based on the continuing education mode and method of the affiliated provincial hospital of Anhui medical university pharmacists,from the establishment of continuing education's goal and mode,the construction of hierarchical continuing education system,and education content integration aspects,this paper expounds the role and influence of the pharmacist professional skill contest.Through pharmacist professional skill contest,pharmacist can test and evaluate the hospital pharmacist professional ability,gradually improve pharmaceutical service level and quality of pharmacists.By introducing the pharmacist professional skill contest,pharmacist can not only timely adjust the continuing education's plan and ways,better coordinate with the development of hospital pharmacists,but also provide important technical support and talent reserves for the pharmacist professional skill contest.

OBJECTIVE:To observe the efficacy and safety of Guizhi fuling capsule combined with mifepristone in treatment of uterine fibroids. METHODS:116 patients with uterine fibroids were randomly divided into control group and observation group. Control group was orally given Mifepristone tablet 25 mg,2 h before meal in the first day of menstrual period,once a day,for con-tinuous 10 d;observation group was additionally given Guizhi fuling capsule 3 pills in non-menstrual period,3 times a day. 3 months was regarded as a treatment course,it lasted 2 courses. Clinical efficacy,and E2,FSH,SHBG,uterine volume,menstrual blood volume,uterine fibroid volume and incidence of adverse reactions in 2 groups before and after treatment were observed. RE-SULTS:Total effective rate in observation group was significantly higher than control group,the difference was statistically signifi-cant(P<0.05). After treatment,the FSH,E2,uterine volume,menstrual blood volume and uterine fibroid volume in 2 groups were significantly lower than before,and observation group was lower than control group,the differences were statistically signifi-cant(P<0.05);but there were no significant difference in the SHBG and adverse reactions between 2 groups(P>0.05). CONCLU-SIONS:The clinical efficacy of Guizhi fuling capsule combined with mifepristone in treatment of uterine fibroids is more signifi-cant than mifepristone alone,with good safety.

OBJECTIVETo explore the theoretical basis and clinical methods for treatment of cerebrovascular diseases according to the collateral theory.

METHODSConjecture the construction components of the brain collaterals from relative description in Huangdi's Internal Classic and Classic on 81 Medical Problems; and illustrate mechanisms and the pathway of acupuncture and moxibustion in treatment of cerebrovascular diseases according to the theory of collaterals by means of relative theories and conclusions of experimental studies.

CONCLUSION(1) Brain collaterals are composed of collaterals of The Yangming, The Taiyang and The Governor Channels and The Changqian Collateral; (2) rich qi and blood are physiological characteristics of the brain collaterals, and pathological changes of the brain collaterals are a part of collaterals in whole body, "deficiency, toxicity, blood stasis" are pathological basis of lesion of the brain collaterals, "blood stasis" is an important pathological link of lesion of the brain collaterals; (3) acupuncture at relative acupoints of channels, pricking blood therapy at Jing points and blood-letting puncture therapy, low energy laser intravascular irradiation are clinically three effective methods for treatment of cerebrovascular diseases based on the theory of collaterals.

Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Cerebrovascular Disorders ; Humans ; Meridians ; Moxibustion

OBJECTIVETo explore clinical therapeutic effects of Governor Vessel Daoqi needling method combined with antidepressants on dyssomnia in the patient of depression.

METHODSdepression with dyssomnia were randomly divided into a treatment group (n=23) and a control group (n=22). The treatment group were treated with Governor Vessel Daoqi needling method and oral administration of antidepressants, with Shenting (GV 24), Baihui (GV 20), Dazhui (GV 14), Shendao (GV 11) and Zhiyang (GV 9) selected as main acupoints; and the control group with simple antidepressants. They were treated for 4 weeks. Changes of scores for Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were investigated in the two groups.

RESULTSSignificant differences before and after treatment in the scores for HAMD (P < 0.01) in both the two groups, and a significant difference before and after treatment in the score for PSQI only in the treatment group (P < 0.01) were found; after treatment, there were significant differences between the two groups in the scores of HAMD and PSQI (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe combined therapy of Governor Vessel Daoqi needling method and antidepressants can significantly improve dyssomnia in the patient of depression.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Antidepressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Depression ; therapy ; Dyssomnias ; etiology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective 99Tcm-ciprofloxacin(Infecton)and 99Tcm-HIgG are both radiopharmaceuticals for inflammation and infectious disease imaging.It was reported that99Tcm-ciprofloxacin (Infecton)Was able to distinguish inflammation from infection.while 99Tcm-HIgG was a nonspecific agent.The study Was designed to compare the in vivo characteristics between 99Tcm-ciprofloxacin(Infecton)and 99Tcm-HIgG in rabbit model of inflammation.Methods Eight rabbits were grouped as inflammation model(the first group).infection model(the second group),concomitant inflammation and infection model(the third group),and control(the fourth group)groups.A total of 185 MBq(0.5 m1)99Tcm-ciprofloxacin(Infecton)Was administered intravenously to each rabbit.a serious dynamic images were acquired till 24 h post-injection.Repeated examination with99Tcm-HIgG was carried out 2 d later.Resuits 99Tcm-ciprofloxacin(Infecton)scan was negative in the inflammation models and controls.and was positive in the infection models.In the third group99Tcmciprofloxacin(Infecton)showed infection focus in the left thigh but negative uptake at inflammation focus in the right thigh.99Tcm-HIgG scan were positive in all models.The optimal image time for99Tcm-ciprofloxacin(Infecton)was 3 h after administration.but positive image could still be observed 24 h later.Conclusion 99Tcm-ciprofloxacin(Infecton)appears to specifically accumulate in the infective lesion.

Objective To detect the immunogenicity of VirB9,a protein of type Ⅳ secretion system of Brucella.Methods Full length VirB9 gene was cloned into plasmid pET32a and expressed in Escherichia (E.) coli BL21 (DE3).Expression of recombinant protein was induced by isopropyl beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) and the recombinant fusion protein was purified by affinity chromatography on Ni2+-conjugated chelateing sepharose.The purity of the purified protein was ascertained by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDSPAGE) and the concentration was measured by bicinchoninic acid (BCA) protein assay kit.Animal model was established by immunizing BAL B/c mice with live vaccine strain S19 of Brucella and the mice immunized with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) as control.The blood of immunized mice was acquired after 4 weeks.Antibody against VirB9 in S19 immunized mice was detected by Rose Bengal plate agglutination test and serum tube agglutination test; IgG antibody titers against VirB9 in immunized mice were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).At the 35th day,the immunized mice and control mice were killed and spleens were collected.The splenocytes were harvested and stimulated with each of VirB9,concanvalin A(ConA) or medium in triplicate.Production of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) was determined by enzyme-linked immunospot assay (Elispot).Results The full length of VirB9 gene was cloned into pET32a.The recombinant VirB9 protein was expressed at 43 × 103 in relative molecular mass and the purity of the purified recombinant VirB9 protein was above 97％ in SDS-PAGE and the concentration was 1.6 g/L in BCA protein assay.The antibody of VirB9 was detected in all S19 immunized mice but not PBS immunized mice by Rose Bengal plate agglutination test.The antibody titer in all S19 immunized mice was ＞ 1 ∶ 800 or ＞ 1 ∶ 3200 by tube agglutination test and ELISA,respectively.Meanwhile,the protein stimulated stronger IFN-γresponse in immunized mice than that in the control mice(147 cells Vs 38 cells).Conclusion VirB9 can stimulate humoral and cellular immunity and it might be an appropriate target for developing subunit vaccine against Brucella.