The segmental neuronal connection plays an important role in acupoint-target organ specific correlation. The acupoint-target organ correlation includes acupoint-visceral correlation and acupoint-somatic correlation. The acupoint-viscera correlation involves both the primary central (spinal cord) mechanism and the peripheral (dorsal root ganglion, DRG) mechanism implemented by segmental nerve reflex via the spinal cord and axonal reflex via DRG respectively, while the acupoint-somatic correlation mainly involves the axonal reflex.

AIM:To construct adenovirus vector expressing mice B7-H1 gene, transfect dendritic cells ( DCs ) , and to study the therapeutic effect of modified DC on thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy ( TAO) in mice.
METHODS: We designed and constructed B7-H1 gene adenovirus expression vector, and transfected DCs from mouse bone marrow, tested the phenotype and function of modified DCs, identificated its negative regulation to immune responses. The modified DCs were infected the sicked mice. And then the immunotherapeutic effect of modified DCs to TAO were tested.
RESULTS: B7 - H1 gene adenovirus vector was constructed and transfected DCs from bone marrow. The titer of the recombinant adenovirus was 1. 8í109 PFU/mL. B7-H1 gene modified DCs characteristics of regulatory DCs, could inhibit positive immune responses. The inhibition proceeding of TAO into mice infected modified DCs, was obviously prior to the control mice. The gene modified DCs, maybe become the new immunotherapy biological agent to thy TAO.
CONCLUSION: We constructed the expression of mouse B7 - H1 gene adenovirus expressed vector successfully, transfected DCs, by vector have properties of regulatory DCs, inhibiting positive immune response and the occurrence and development of thyroid eye disease. Gene modified DCs, reveal potent to the treatment of thyroid eye disease.

Objective To evaluate the clinical application of CT-guided localization with combination of methylene blue and a Hookwire system for small pulmonary nodules (SPNs) before video-assisted thoracoscopic resection.Methods CTguided localization the SPNs before resection in 56 patients and 60 nodules,then underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) resection.Among 56 patients,19 males and 37 females,aged from 35 to 81 years,mean age was (61.1 ±8.9)years.Results SPNs diameter (6.80 ±4.12) mm,distance from the parietal pleura (15.38 ±4.63) mm.CT-guided localization success rate was 100％,positioning time (10.76 ± 8.17) min,8.9％ (5/56) had micro pneumothorax aftet positioning,7.1％ (4/56) occurrence of needle tract bleeding,no conservative treatment.VATS resection rate was 100％.The pathology of 60 lesions were shown:Bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma(BAC) were 33 lesions(55.0％),BAC and adenocarcinoma were 11 lesions(18.3％),Atypicaladenomatous hyperplasia (AAH) were 7 lesions (11.8％),Inflammation were 4 lesions (6.7％),Harmatoma were 3 lesions(5.0％),Tuberculoses were 2 lesions(3.3％).Conclusion CT-guided localization with combination of methylene blue and a Hookwire system before video-assisted thoracoscopic resection is a promising technique for small solitary pulmonary nodules.It could play an important role in accurate localization of small pulmonary nodules,and it is a safe technique with clinical application.

Background Growth factor-induced proliferation and migration of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells are the major pathological changes of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR).Arsenic trioxide ( As2O3 ) is an active ingredient of Chinese traditional medicines,which has an inhibition on proliferation and migration of tumor cells.However,it is not clear whether As2O3 could inhibit growth factor-induced proliferation and migration of RPE cells. Objective This study was to explore the effects of As2O3 on epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced proliferation and migration of ARPE-19 cells. Methods RPE cell line (ARPE-19 cells) were cultured.Different concentrations of As2O3(0,0.5,1.0,2.0,5.0,10.0,20.0 μmol/L) were added in the culture plate to treat ARPE-19 cells with or without 10 mg/L EGF in serum-free group for 24 and 48 hours,respectively.The MTT colorimetric assay was used to check the cell viability and evaluate the drug toxicity.The effects of As2O3 on EGF-induced proliferation of ARPE-19 cells were analyzed to get an effective and avirulent concentrations of As2O3.The effects of As2O3 on EGF-induced migration of ARPE-19 cells were observed by scratch-wound assay and the Boyden chamber assay.Results MTT assay showed that the A values were gradually declined with the increase of As2O3 concentrations after As2O3 treatment without EGF for 24 hours and 48 hours ( Fgroup =38.269,P =0.000 ; Ftime =0.874,P =0.358 ).Compared with the control group,no significant differences were seen in the A values of ARPE-19 cells in 0.5-5.0 μmol/L groups (all P＞0.05).Meantime,As2O3 reduced the A values of ARPE-19 cell with 10 mg/L EGF in dose- and time-dependent manner ( Fgroup =152.155,P =0.000 ; Ftime =51.649,P =0.000 ).There were not significant differences in 10 mg/L EGF-induced cell growth after 0.5,1.0,2.0 μmol/L As2O3 was added for 24 and 48 hours ( Fgroup =2.215,P =0.126 ;Ftime =2.230,P =0.155).However,when 5.0-20.0 μmol/L As2O3 added,the A values of 10 mg/L EGF-induced ARPE-19 cells lowed,showing a significant difference in comparison with the control groups ( all P＜0.05),with the cellular inhibiting rate 12％,32％,37％ in 24 hours and 39％,44％ and 53％ in 48 hours.Scratch-wound assay showed that EGF-induced horizontal migration of ARPE-19 cells was slow after 0.5-2.0 μmol/L As2O3 treated,and the same results also appeared in cell lognitudinal migration by Boyden chamber assay,with the inhibitory rates 22％,33％ and 46％ respectively. Conclusions As2O3 is avirulent on ARPE-19 cells within definite concentration range.At ≤ 2.0 μmol/L concentrations,As2O3 dose not affect EGF-induced proliferation of ARPE-19 cells,but it suppresses EGF-induced cell migration.At ≥ 5.0 μmol/L concentrations,As2O3 plays an inhibitory role to EGF-induced proliferation of ARPE-19 cells.

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of preconditioning acupuncture (PA) on the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.

METHODSEighty patients suffered from primary dysmenorrhea were randomly assigned on the ratio of 1:1:2 into three groups, 20 in Group A, 20 in Group B, and 40 in Group C. Group A and B were treated with PA and immediate acupuncture (IA), respectively, while Group C received no acupuncture treatment and be taken as a blank control. The treatment was lasted for three menstrual cycles. The therapeutic effects were observed and compared.

RESULTSComparing the scores of the symptoms in the different groups, the therapeutic effect in different groups showed that the symptom scores in Group A at the second and third cycle of treatment, as well as at the first and third cycle of follow-up, were significantly lower than the scores in Group B, respectively (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the duration of symptoms was shorter in Group A than in Group B at the third cycle of treatment and the first and third cycle of follow-up (P<0.05). Symptom scores in Groups A and B in the treatment and follow-up periods were all lowered as compared to those before treatment (P<0.01), and the scores were also lower than those in Group C measured at corresponding times (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of PA, either the short-term or the long-term effect, was superior to that of IA in treating dysmenorrhea.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Age of Onset ; Dysmenorrhea ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; pathology ; therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Research Design ; Severity of Illness Index ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

As a work of modern acupuncture and moxibustion, the discusses various key issues in the field of acupuncture and moxibustion, such as the existing problems of acupuncture and moxibustion, the deconstruction of traditional acupuncture and moxibustion, the cultural problems of acupuncture and moxibustion, the construction of modern acupuncture and moxibustion system, the significance of western acupuncture and moxibustion, the value of 's acupuncture and moxibustion, the problems of systematic acupuncture and moxibustion, which has showed inclusivity and innovation of modern acupuncture and moxibustion.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Medicine ; Moxibustion

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of vacuum-assisted closure (V.A.C) on the expression of Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor(uPAR) protein in margin tissue of pigs with acute wounds and patients with chronic wounds.

METHODSAcute wounds were created on the two side of five male pigs' back, the experiment wounds on one side received V. A. C treatment and the control side received traditional treatment. Punch biopsies were taken from margin tissue of the wounds in 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 25 days after the V.A.C treatment. The uPA and uPAR positive cells were stained with immunohistochemical technique . Six human chronic wounds were also treated with the V. A. C treatment, and the samples of extravasate from those wounds were collected in 0, 1, 3, 5, 7 days after the treatment, and the levels of uPA and uPAR expression were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSThe expression of uPA and uPAR protein in margin tissues of pigs with acute wounds increased and peaked in 3 days after the treatment with V. A. C, then it presented rapidly downtrend, but the expression and staining in the experiment group were obviously higher than that of the control group. In the six chronic wounds, the high level expression of uPA and uPAR protein was decreased after the treatment with V. A. C.

CONCLUSIONThe V. A. C may increase the expression of uPA and uPAR protein in acute wound keratinocytes and decrease the high expression of uPA and uPAR in chronic wounds.

Adult ; Animals ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy ; Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator ; metabolism ; Swine ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; metabolism ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo study the changes of metalloproteinases 1, 2, 13 in granulation wound after the treatment of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC).

METHODSThe chronic wounds in 5 patients were treated with VAC. The expressions of MMP-1, 2, 13 in the granulation tissues of the chronic wounds were determined and quantified using RT-PCR technique before and at 1, 4, 7 days after the treatment.

RESULTSThe MMP-1, 13 mRNA showed obvious decrease, with the steepest variation of MMP-13. The MMP-2 mRNA also showed a decreased tendency, though in an undulatory fashion.

CONCLUSIONVAC can promote healing of chronic wounds through depressing the expressions of MMP-1, 2, 13 mRNA and protein synthesis, depressing the degradations of collagen and gelatin.

Collagen ; metabolism ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Time Factors ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo compare the different therapeutic effect between acupuncture at Shiqizhui (EX-B 8) only and multi acupoints on dysmenorrhea.

METHODSThirty eight cases were randomly divided into a single acupoint group and a multi-acupoints group, 19 cases in each group. The single acupoint group was treated by acupuncture at Shiqizhui (EX-B 8) only, and the multi-acupoints group by acupuncture at Shiqizhui (EX-B 8), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Diji (SP 8), Ciliao (BL 32). They were all treated from the first day when sudden intense pain occurs, one time each day, for 3 days in each menstrual cycle, the treatment of three menstrual cycles. The therapeutic effect and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were compared and the score of general frequency and severity of dysmenorrhea by using Cox Menstrual Symptom Scale (CMSS) were evaluated.

RESULTSThe cured rate was 68.4% (13/19) and the effective rate was 31.6% (6/19) in the single acupoint group, being similar to 78.9% (15/19) and 21.1% (4/19) in the multi-acupoints group (P > 0.05). VAS and the scores of general frequency and severity of dysmenorrhea were all significantly decreased after treatment in both groups (all P < 0.001), with no significant difference between the two groups (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at Shiqizhui (EX-B 8) only can be as effective as selecting multi-acupoints to cure essential dysmenorrhea.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Analgesia ; Dysmenorrhea ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo compare the time-effect rule of pain-relieving in moderate dysmenorrhea in the treatment between acupuncture on single-point and acupuncture on multi-point so as to determine the best time of needle retaining on single-point and multi-point as well as provide the reference evidences of acupuncture frequency in the treatment.

METHODSSixty-three cases of moderate dysmenorrhea were randomized into a single-point group (31 cases) and a multi-point group (32 cases). During the attack of dysmenorrhea, in single-point group, Shiqizhui (EX-B 8) was punctured; in multi-point group, Shiqizhui (EX-B 8), Diji (SP 8), Ciliao (BL 32) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were punctured and the needles were retained for 30 min. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) values were recorded in the immediate time before acupuncture, in 5 min, 10 min, 20 min and 30 min after needle insertion, as well as in 30 min, 60 min and 120 min after needle withdrawal separately.

RESULTSAfter needling, analgesia was generated rapidly in either group. During 30 min of needle retaining, analgesia was enhanced persistently till needle withdrawal in either group. In 10 min after needle insertion, the immediate analgesia in multi-point group was superior obviously to single-point group (P < 0.05) and this effect was maintained in 2 h after needle withdrawal. In 30 min after needle withdrawal, acupuncture analgesia was declined to the maximum.

CONCLUSIONEither single-point acupuncture at Shiqizhui (EX-B 8) or multi-point acupuncture at Shiqizhui (EX-B 8) and other acupoints has apparent immediate analgesia on primary dysmenorrhea of moderate degree, but the effect of multi-point acupuncture is better than that of acupuncture at Shiqizhui (EX-B 8). No matter with acupuncture at Shiqizhui (EX-B 8) or at multi-point, the time of needle retaining should not be shorten than 30 min. It is suitable to give acupuncture, twice per day for the patients with moderate and persistent pain.

Acupuncture Analgesia ; Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Dysmenorrhea ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Pain Management ; Young Adult