OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy differences between dog-days medicinal vesiculation and regular-day medicinal vesiculation for perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR), and observe their effects on serum immune globulin E (IgE) and interleukin-4 (IL-4).

METHODSSeventy-two patients were randomly divided into a dog-days moxibustion group (34 cases) and a regular-day moxibustion group (38 cases). In the dog-days moxibustion group, medicinal vesiculation was applied on the 1st dog-day, 2nd dog-day and last dog-day in summer by lunar calendar, 3 treatments per dog-day for totally 9 times. In the regular-day moxibustion group, the moxibustion was given on the regular day for continuous 9 times. The symptom score, rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) and the level of IgE and IL-4 were compared before and after treatment in two groups; the short-term and two-year efficacy evaluation were performed too.

RESULTSThe short-term total effective rate was 88.2% (30/34) in the dog-days moxibustion group, which was not significantly different to 86.8% (33/38) in the regular-day moxibustion group (P>0.05). The long-term total effective rate was 97.1% (33/34) in the dog-days moxibustion group, which was significantly superior to 81.6% (31/38) in the regular-day moxibustion group (P<0.05). After treatment, the serum IgE, IL-4 and RQLQ were significantly reduced (all P<0.01), but the difference between two groups was not significant (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONMedicinal moxibustion could be taken as a regular treatment for PAR, which could be performed during the whole year, and dog-days moxibustion could be considered as an enhanced method for prevention and treatment of PAR.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Juvenile ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Injections, Intra-Articular

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is characterized by serous detachment of the sensory retina as a consequence of the focal leakage of fluid from the choriocapillaries to subretinal space through a defect of the retinal pigment epithelium(RPE). The exact cause of CSC is not well unknown. Psychological stress is thought to contribute to CSC, but the physiologic mechanisms are unclear. It is hypothesized that psychological stress can induce CSC through the mechanism of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system. Psychological stress can adversely affect HPA axis and causes glucocorticoid levels to elevate. Increased glucocorticoids constrict choroid vessels, which leads to ischemia of choroids and damage vascular endothelial cells, thus causing vasopermeability to increase. RPE dysfunction will occur as a result of abnormalities in the choroidal circulation. The large molecules including protein may enter the subretinal space through the damaged vessels and RPE.

Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of ginsenoside Rg3 on herpes simplex virus(type 1(HSV-1) in vitro and) its immunoregulative effect.Methods Crystal violet staining was used to observe the inhibitory effect of Rg3 on the cytopathic effect caused by HSV-1.MTT colorimetry was used to detect the influence of Rg3 on the proliferation of Vero cells and mouse splenocytes.The mouse splenocytes were induced with Rg3,and the activity of IL-2 was detected by lymphoblast proliferation assay and IFN-? by cytopathic effect inhibition.(Results The) A_(570) values of cytopathic effect in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group when doses of Rg3 were 1.56-25 mg?L~(-1) in vitro(P0.05).The secretary levels of IL-2 and IFN-? in experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group in vitro when doses of Rg3 were(3.13-6.25)mg?L~(-1) (P

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cardia ; Enteral Nutrition ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Intubation, Gastrointestinal ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery ; Time Factors

Objective To investigate the impact of alterations within the space of Disse micro- environment on the migration of hepatic stellate cells(HSC) during the process of liver fibrosis,and to ex plore the novel mechanism of liver fibrosis from the view of cell migration.Methods A modified in vitro Boyden chamber system to partially mimic in vivo microenvironment of Disse space of normal and liver fibrosis was employed.The effects of fibrogenetic growth factors on the migration of HSC in liver fibrosis were observed via cell migration and cell proliferation experiments.Results Enhanced platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF)-BB,transforming growth factor(TGF)-?1 and/or epithelial growth factor(EGF) in liver fibrosis resulted in an increase in migratory capacity of activated HSC.The enhanced migration of HSCs induced by PDGF-BB was partially associated with their increased proliferation,while,TGF-?1 or EGF-induced migration was proliferation independent.The elevation of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) or vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)during liver fibrosis had no effect on the migration of HSCs.Conclusions The study provides valuable insights into the role of space of Disse microenvironment in regulating HSC migratory behavior.TGF-?1,PDGF-BB and EGF,which increased in liver fibrosis, could induce the migration of activated HSC.However,bFGF or VEGF has no such kind of effect,al- though they also increased during liver fibrosis.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials ; Glutamic Acid ; physiology ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; Neurons ; cytology ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory ; Heart Atria ; pathology ; Humans ; Tachycardia, Ectopic Atrial ; diagnosis

Objective To study the mechanism of GuiJi cream in dispelling effects on corrupt microorganism.Methods A total of 90 full-layer skin injured rats were served as test model. The effects of Guiji cream on collagen type Ⅰ (C Ⅰ), matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and MMP-3 in granulation tissue of wound were observed with immunohistochemistry technique and image-analysis system at various stages of healing. Results The expression of C Ⅰ was obviously increased and the level of MMP-1 and MMP-3 increased at the early stage and kept at a high level from day 3 to day 10. Conclusion The mechanism of GuiJi cream for dispelling effects on corrupt microorganism was increasing the C Ⅰ content in granulation tissue of wound through inhibiting the secretion of MMP- 1.

Objective To evaluate the epidemiological characteristics of brucellosis in Jinan city and to identify its cause in order to provide evidence for development of specific preventive strategies in the future.Methods Epidemic information of the disease and survey data of brucellosis cases from 2002 to 2008 in the Infectious and Endemic Disease Control Jinan Centre for Disease Control and Prevention were analyzed statistically.Results From 2002 to 2008, 52 cases were diagnosed as brucellosis, among which 39 cases from Zhangqiu city.The incidence rate ranged from 0.02 to 0.10 hundred thousandth from 2002 to 2006, and 0.25 and 0.26 hundred thousandth in 2007 and 2008, respectively. The disease was found each mouth throughout the year, marked with summer peak[38.46%(20/52)]. Patients increased year after year in summer and spring seasons(r = 0.92, P ＜ 0.01) .The disease was most commonly found in 30 - 59 age group[69.23%(36/52)];men women incidence ratio was 1.67: 1.00;farmers accounting for 94.23%(49/52). There were 5 clusters of family outbreak brucellosis, involving 12 cases. Forty five patients contacted with sheep, accounting for 86.54% (45/52). Conclusions Brucellosis epidemic in Jinan is in an upward trend, mainly in summer and spring, elderly and middle-aged men farmers are the majority of patients. Zhangqiu of Jinan city is a key place for prevention and control of brucellosis;source of infection is not completely eliminated, exotic livestock have not been effectively quarantined, practitioners with weak sense of self-protection is the main reason of the epidemic rise.