OBJECTIVETo compare the differences in the efficacy on speech and swallowing dysfunction of medulla oblongata palsy (MOP) after brainstem infarction between electroacupuncture at eight-neck-occiput points and routine acupoints.

METHODSSeventy-two patients were randomized into a neck-occiput points group and a meridian points group, 36 cases in each one. In the neck-occiput points group, the eight-neck-occiput points (Neck 1-4 points, Occiput 1-4 points) were selected. In the meridian points group, Lianquan (CV 23), Futu (LI 18), Tongli (HT 5), Hegu (LI 4) and the others were selected. Electroacupuncture was used in the two groups, dense-dispersion wave, retaining for 30 min. The treatment was given once a day, 5 treatments a week. Totally, 4 weeks were required. The symptom scores of speech and swallowing dysfunction were observed before and after treatment in the two groups. The efficacy was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe scores of speech and swallowing dysfunction were improved significantly after treatment in the two groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The results in the neck-occiput points group were better than those in the meridian points group (both P < 0.01). The curative rate of speech dysfunction was 30.6% (11/36) and that of swallowing dysfunction was 22.2% (8/ 36) in the neck-occiput points group, which were better than 11.1% (4/36) and 5.6% (2/36) in the meridian points group, respectively. The differences were significant in comparison of the two groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture at eight-neck-occiput points achieves a better efficacy on speech and swallowing dysfunction of MOP after brainstem infarction as compared with the routine acupoints. This therapy is characterized as more accurate point localization and safer operation.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Brain Stem Infarctions ; complications ; Bulbar Palsy, Progressive ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Deglutition ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medulla Oblongata ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo compare therapeutic effects of deeply needling Qiangji 4 points and routine acupuncture therapy on prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc.

METHODSTwo hundred and seventy-nine cases were randomly divided into 2 groups, deeply needling group (n=140) and routine acupuncture group (n=139). The deeply needling group were treated with deeply needling Qiangji 4 points, and the routine acupuncture group with acupuncture at Qihaishu (BL 24), Dachangshu (BL 25), Guanyuanshu (BL 26), Xiaochangshu (BL 27) into routine deep. Their therapeutic effects were compared.

RESULTSAt the end of the first therapeutic course, the cured rate was 42.1% in the deeply needling group and 28.1% in the routine acupuncture group with significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05), and at the end of the second course, the cured rate was 82.9% in the deeply needling group and 46.8% in the routine acupuncture group with a very significant difference between the two groups (P<0.005).

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of deeply needling Qiangji 4 points on prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc is significantly better than that of routine acupuncture.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; therapy ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo study how hepatitis B virus(HBV) 'a' determinant hotpoint mutations were influecing the hepatitis B vaccine efficacy.

METHODSPrimers were designed in HBV conservative region, and the degenerate probes for detecting 16 'a' determinant hotpoint mutations were developed for gene chips. Sensitivity and specificity of the gene chips were evaluated by clone sequencing. Sera of 47 pairs of mothers and infants with immune failure and 323 mothers of children with immune protection of HB vaccine were detected by the gene chips.

RESULTSResult from clone sequencing demonstrated that the gene chips were specific for the detection of 'a' determinant hotpoint mutations. The wild type of HBV was still dominant, with the prevalence of 78.66%, and the mutation frequencies of 126A, 145R, 126S-1, 126S-2, 129H, 144A, and 129R were 11.27%, 5.76%, 5.28%, 4.56%, 1.20%, 0.72% and 0.24%, respectively. The prevalence of 126A mutation was significantly higher than that of other mutations(P < 0.01). No significant differences were found in mother-infant transmission rates of 126A, 126S-1, 126S-2 and 145R variants.

CONCLUSIONThe currently available hepatitis B vaccine could block mother-infant transmission of 126A, 126S and 145R variants. It appears that there is no need to develop a new hepatitis B vaccine against 126 and 145 variants at present, but the consistent epidemiological surveillance on HBV mutants should be carried out.

Adult ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B ; prevention & control ; transmission ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; immunology ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; prevention & control ; Mutation ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious ; prevention & control ; virology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of tacrolimus-binding protein 38 (FKBP38) in follicle development and the mechanism by which Fkbp38 gene deletion causes premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). METHODS: The Cre-loxp system was used to construct oocyte-specific Fkbp38 knockout transgenic mice. The genotype of the transgenic mice was identified using PCR, and the expression of FKBP38 in the oocytes was verified. The numbers of primordial follicles, primary follicles, secondary follicles and antral follicles in Fkbp38 knockout mice and non-transgenic littermate control mice were counted with HE staining under a microscope for analyzing the effect of Fkbp38 deletion on follicular development. The fertility and serum sex hormone levels of the mice were determined by reproduction experiments and ELISA to assess ovarian function. Ovarian granulosa cell apoptosis of the mice was assessed using TUNEL assay. The activity of the downstream target protein of phosphorylated ribosomal S6 (PS6) of mTOR signaling pathway was detected, and the expressions of BCL-2 and BAX proteins were determined using immunofluorescence assay for assessing oocyte development in the mice. RESULTS: The oocyte-specific Fkbp38 knockout transgenic mouse model was successfully constructed, which showed decreased fertility, disordered sex hormone levels, and significantly reduced primordial follicles, primary follicles and secondary follicles in the ovary (P < 0.05), demonstrating POI-like changes. Compared with the control mice, oocyte-specific Fkbp38 knockout caused activation of the mTOR signaling pathway, significantly increased apoptosis of the granulosa cells, and obviously increased the BAX/BCL- 2 ratio by increasing BAX expression and reducing BCL-2 expression in the oocytes (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION FKBP38 plays an important role in follicle development, and Fkbp38 gene deletion in mice causes POI possibly by activating the mTOR signaling pathway and inducing granulosa cell apoptosis.
Female ; Humans ; Mice ; Animals ; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency/genetics* ; Apoptosis ; Signal Transduction ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; Granulosa Cells ; Mice, Transgenic ; Mice, Knockout ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases