Objective To explore the correlation of TCM syndrome patterns of chronic pharyngitis(CP)with etiological factors.Methods A questionnaire investigation was carried out in 102 CP patients,of which 30 were differentiated as lung-kidney yin deficiency,30 as spleen-stomach deficiency,30 as phlegm coagulation and blood stasis,and 12 as spleen-kidney yang deficiency.The dietary hobbies,living and working environment,systemic diseases and living habits of the patients were recorded.Meanwhile,parameters of the pharyngeal microorganism and immunology were detected.Results The results of nonparametric test showed significant difference between the age and the mean disease course of the four syndrome patterns(P0.05). There existed significant difference between indulging in spicy food,indulging in cold and raw food,and staying up at night in the four syndromes (P0.05).The distribution of the four syndromes was different in the population with medical history of tonsillitis,dental caries,chronic cough,chronic gastritis and chronic colitis(P0.05).Conclusion The syndrome patterns of chronic pharyngitis are correlated with age,disease course,dietary habits of indulging in spicy food and cold-raw food,living habit of staying up at night,systemic disease or disease of organs around the throat,but are not correlated with sex,household registration,job,working and living environment,indulging in frying food,hobbies of smoking and drinking,living habits,emotional factors,throat swab culture results and immune parameters.

Objective To investigate the effects of chitosan(CS)/pcDNA3.1(+) CrmA on the expression of interleukin-13 (IL-1β3) converting enzyme (ICE) and IL-1β in chondrocytes.Methods Rabbit chondrocytes were isolated and cultured.Chondrocytes were treated with PBS,10 μg/ml CS/pcDNA3.1(+) and CS/pcDNA3.1 (+) CrmA respectively for 6 hours.Then 10 ng/ml IL-1β was added into the culture medium.After 48 hours,the messenger RNA and protein expression of ICE and IL-1β in chondrocytes were detected by using real time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting.Results In CS/pcDNA3.1 (+) CrmA treated group (0.52 ±0.09),the mRNA expression of ICE inchondrocytes was significantly inhibited compared withcorresponding samples of CS/pcDNA3.1 (+) group (0.84±0.11,t=4.42,P＜0.01) and PBS group (1.00±0.10,t=6.58,P＜0.01).ICE protein expression in CS/pcDNA3.1 (+) CrmA treated group (0.20±0.03) was markedly lower than CS/pcDNA3.1 (+) (0.37±0.05,t=4.85,P＜0.01) and PBS treated group (0.44±0.07,t=6.68,P＜0.01).There was no significant difference of ICE mRNA and protein expressions in chondrocytes between CS/pcDNA3.1(+) group and PBS group.Significant difference of IL-1β mRNA expression was found in the three groups.IL-1 β mRNA expression level was significantly lower in CS/pcDNA3.1(+) CrmA treated group (0.55± 0.08) than CS/pcDNA3.1(+) (0.69±0.06,t=3.50,P＜0.01) and PBS group (0.99±0.04,t=11.12,P＜0.01) of chondrocytes.IL-1β protein expression level of chondrocytesin CS/pcDNA3.1(+) CrmA group (0.230±0.020) was significantly lower than CS/pcDNA3.1 (+) (0.450±0.060,t=5.07,P＜0.01)and PBS groups (0.610±0.090,t=8.70,P＜0.01) of cells.Significant difference of IL-1β mRNA and protein expression between CS/pcDNA3.1 (+) and PBS group was also observed (t=7.61,P＜0.01;t=3.63,P＜0.01).Conclusion CrmA mediated by chitosan can significantly suppress the mRNA and protein expression of ICE,thus down regulat the expression of IL-1β,which may be one of the mechanisms of CS/pcDNA3.1 (+) CrmA in the treatment of osteoarthritic cartilage degeneration.

Objective To investigate the effects of chitosan/pCDNA3.1 (+) CrmA on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 expression of chondrocytes induced by interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in mRNA and protein levels.Methods Rabbit chondrocytes were isolated and cultured.Chondrocytes were treated with PBS,10 μg/ml chitosan (CS) and chitosan/ pCDNA3.1 (+)CrmA respectively for 6 hours.Then 10 ng/ml IL-1β was added into the culture medium.After 48 hours,real time polymerase chain reaction (real time PCR) and Western blot assay were used to examine the changes of MMP1 and TIMP-1 in mRNA and protein levels.Results In CS/pCDNA3.1 (+)CrmA treated group (0.44±0.04),the messenger RNA expression of MMP-1 in chondrocytes was significantly suppressed compared with corresponding samples of PBS treated group (1.00±0.05) and CS treated group (0.76±0.07),There was significant difference between three groups (F=106.93,P＜0.01).The MMP-1 protein expression of chondrocytes in CS/pCDNA3.1 (+)CrmA treated group (0.28±0.03) was lower than that of PBS treated group (0.73±0.06) and CS treated group (0.46±0.05)(F=59.66,P＜0.01).No significant difference of TIMP-1 expression among the three groups was observed in mRNA and protein levels.Conclusion CS/pCDNA3.1(+) CrmA can significantly inhibit the mRNA and protein expressions of MMP-1 of chondrocytes induced by IL-1β,which leads to up-regulation the ratio of TIMPs to MMPs of IL-1β induced chondrocytes.It may be a part of the mechanisms of the therapeutic effects of CS/pCDNA3.1 (+)CrmA on osteoarthritis.

Objective To investigate the effect of Buzhong Yiqi Decoction for allergic rhinitis(AR)with spleen -qi de-ficiency in guinea pigs.Methods AR guinea -pig model was established by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin for general sensitization and then by nasal drip of ovalbumin for local sensitization.Spleen -qi deficiency mod el was induced by gastric infusion of cold -maceration extract of Radix et Rhizoma Rhei.Fifty -four guinea pigs were randoml y allocated to four groups:AR group(Group A),AR model with spleen -qi deficiency group(Group B),AR model with spleen -qi deficiency treated by Buzhong Yiqi group(Group C)and blank control group(Group D).Nasal symptoms were observed.The number of eosinophils(EOS )in nasal secretion was detected by sm ear cytologic examination and the number of EOS and mastocyte in nasal mucosa was exa mined by pathological section.Results Before local sensitization,nasal s ymp-toms such as nose scratching,sneezing and nasal discharge in Group A,Gro up B and Group C were severer than those in Group D and were improved in Group C in the late stage.Positive rate of EOS i n nasal secretion and nasal mucosa of Group C and Group D was lower than that in Group A and Group B and the differen ce was insignificant between Group C and Group D.The number of mastocyte i n Group C was lower than that in Group A and Group B.Conclusion Buzhong Yiqi Decoction can relieve nasal symptom s in AR Guinea pigs with spleen -qi deficiency by counteracting the infiltration of EOS and the increase of nastocytes in nasal mucosa.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of stereotactic surgical treatment and postoperative cognitive functions in patients with treat-resistant obsessive compulsive disorder(TRO). Methods Twelve patients with TRO receiving MRI stereotactic bilateral anterior capsulotomy was retrospectively studied. The evaluation was conducted using the Yale-Brown obsessive compulsive rating scale (Y-BOCS),Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised in China (WAIS-RC),Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised in China(WMS-R), Modified Version of Wisconsin Card Sorting Tests (M-WCST) before and 6 months after the operation. Results The scores of Y-BOCS was 5.00(1.00,12.25) and 25.00 (20.25,32.00) after and before surgery, respectively. The scores of Y-BOCS were significantly lower after surgery than before (P<0.05). Most of cognitive function tests were not significantly different in TRO between pre-operation and 6 month post-operation (P>0.05).There were significant improvements in several cognitive tests after surgery including im-mediately logical memory 20.00(12.50,24.00),delayed logical memory16.50(11.50,21.75),immediately visual reproduc- tion 12.00(11.00,14.00),delayed visual reproduction11.00(8.50,14.00) and block design test scores 36.50(29.75,46.75), immediately logical memory14.00(13.00,18.75),delayed logical memory 14.50 (8.75,17.00),immediately visual reproduc-tion 11.00(6.50,11.75),delayed visual reproduction 8.50(6.25,10.00) and block design test scores 30.50(21.00,41.50) (P<0.05). Conclusions MRI-guided bilateral anterior internal capsulotomy is effective and safe treatment for patients with TRO and can improve their cognitive function.

Humans ; SARS-CoV-2 ; COVID-19 ; Antibodies ; Antibodies, Viral/therapeutic use* ; Antibodies, Neutralizing/therapeutic use*