Erchen Decoction is widely used to dampness-phlegm syndrome and it can be flexibly used in clinical application by my supervisor Professor OU Zheng-wu, especially in cough, pneumonia, asthma and influenza, which has obvious efficacy in treatment. This article reviewed five medical cases during the follow-up process with Professor OU in application of Erchen Decoction, with a purpose to share experience of famous doctors and improve TCM diagnosis and treatment level together.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of repeated sintering on the color of two porcelain-fused-to-titanium, and the differences between the two porcelains.

METHODSThirty samples were prepared and sintered for 9 times. The color of samples were measured following sintering 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 times by ShadeEye NCC colorimeter according to two brands of porcelains with CIE1976L*a*b* color system, and calculated relevant chrome, chromatism and hue, and statistical analysis.

RESULTSWhen two brands of porcelains were sintered 5 times, the color parameters had no significant change and sintered continuely, the color parameters of L* and a* had obvious changes, but can't be observed by eyes.

CONCLUSIONThe color parameters of titanium-porcelains have no significant change after repeated sintering.

Color ; Colorimetry ; Dental Porcelain ; Humans ; Metal Ceramic Alloys ; Titanium

OBJECTIVETo assess the effect-increasing action of rolling needle therapy on insomnia.

METHODSSixty-four cases were randomly divided into a rolling needle treatment group and a control group, 32 cases in each group. The control group were treated with oral administration of clonazepam 4 mg, once each night, for 4 consecutive weeks. The rolling needle therapy group were treated with the same treatment as the control group, plus the rolling needle stimulation of the back. The therapeutic effect was assessed by effective rate of sleep improvement and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI).

RESULTSAfter treatment there was a significant difference between the two groups in the score of PSQI (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe rolling needle therapy can increase the improving action of clonazepam on insomnia, and increase life quality of the patient.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Needles ; Sleep ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

This study aims to develop a method for determination of beta-elemene, curcumol, germacrone and neocurdione in the volatile oil of Curcuma phaeocaulis, and to provide the basis of the quality control method for the volatile oil of C. phaeocaulis and the related preparations. Based on GC-MS, the 4 main compounds were simultaneously determined, with the internal standard n-tridecane. The Agilent 19091S-433 column (0.25 microm x 250 microm x 30 m) was adopted at the temperature of 250 degrees C, the programmed temperature method (60 degrees C for 1 min, 5 degrees C x min x to 110 degrees C for 5 min, 1 degrees C x min(-1) to 140 degrees C, 5 degrees C x min(-1) to 160 degrees C, 10 degrees C x min(-1) to 240 degrees C) was used. Helium gas was used as the carrier gas at a constant flow rat of 1 mL x min(-1), with an injection volume of 1 RL. Mass spectra were taken at 70 eV; the ion-source temperature was 200 degrees C. The relation time and character acteristic ions for each target compound were determined by full scan mode and SIM, and m/z 85.1, 93.1, 121.1, 107.1 and 180.1 were the detection ions of n-tridecane, beta-elemene, curcumol, germacrone and neocurdione. As a result, beta-elemene, curcumol, germacrone and neocurdione were all detected with good separation. They were all in a good linear relationship within each concentration scope. The average recovery rates were in the range of 98.2%-101%. So, the method can be used to control the quality of the volatile of C. phaeocaulis Val. and the preparations related.
Acetic Acid ; chemistry ; Curcuma ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Oils, Volatile ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Oils ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Sesquiterpenes ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Sesquiterpenes, Germacrane ; analysis ; isolation & purification

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of biofeedback in preventing chronic daily headaches. Methods One hundred patients experiencing daily headaches were randomly divided into a biofeedback group ( n=50) and a drug therapy group (n=50). The patients in the drug therapy groupwere administered a predetermined course of medication. Those in the biofeedback group were given 30 minutes of biofeedback therapy twice a week for 8 weeks, followed by 10 months of intensive therapy once a month. The headache frequency, duration of headache at-tacks, days of using acute pain medication and any other adverse events were recorded 3, 6 and 12 months after the treatment. Results The patients in the biofeedback group had significantly less-frequent headaches, shorter headache attacks and fewer days of using acute pain medications. Conclusion Compared to drug therapy, biofeed-back can prevent chronic daily headachesmore safely and effectively.

OBJECTIVETo construct lipL32/1-lipL41/1 fusion gene and its prokaryotic expression system and to determine frequencies of carrying and expression of lipL32 and lipL41 genes in L.interrogans wild strains and specific antibody levels in sera from leptospirosis patients.

METHODSlipL32/1-lipL41/1 fusion gene was constructed using linking primer PCR method and the prokaryotic expression system of the fusion gene done with routine techniques. SDS-PAGE was used to examine expression of the target recombinant protein rLipL32/1-rLipL41/1. Immunogenicity of rLipL32/1-rLipL41/1 was identified by Western blot. PCR and MAT were performed to detect carrying and expression of lipL32 and lipL41 genes in 97 wild L.interrogans strains. Antibodies against products of lipL32 and lipL41 genes in serum samples from 228 leptospirosis patients were detected by ELISA method.

RESULTSThe homogeneity of nucleotide and putative amino acid sequence of lipL32/1-lipL41/1 fusion gene were 99.9 % and 99.8 % in comparison with the reported sequences. Expression output of the target recombinant protein rLipL32/1-rLipL41/1, mainly present in inclusion body, accounted for 10 % of the total bacterial proteins. Both the rabbit antisera against rLipL32/1 and rLipL41/1 could combine to rLipL32/1-rLipL41/1. 97.9 % and 87.6 % of the L.interrogans wild strains had lipL32 and lipL41 genes, respectively. 95.9 % and 84.5 % of the wild strains were positive for MAT with titers of 1:4 - 1:128 using rabbit anti-rLipL32s or anti-rLipL41s sera, respectively. 94.7 % - 97.4 % of the patients'serum samples were positive for rLipL32s antibodies, while 78.5 % - 84.6 % of them were rLipL41s antibodies detectable.

CONCLUSIONlipL32/1-jlipL41/1 fusion gene and its prokaryotic expression system were successfully constructed. The expressed fusion protein had qualified immunogenicity. Both the lipL32 and lipL41 genes are extensively carried and frequently expressed by different serogroups of L.interrogans, and their expression products exhibit cross-antigenicity.

Antibodies, Bacterial ; blood ; Antigens, Bacterial ; genetics ; immunology ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial ; genetics ; Humans ; Leptospira interrogans ; genetics ; Leptospirosis ; immunology ; microbiology ; Lipoproteins ; genetics ; Prokaryotic Cells ; metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo construct prokaryotic expression systems of ltB/ctB-ompL1/1 fusion genes and to determine the L.interrogans carrying status in leptospirosis patients with the expression products.

METHODSThe fusion genes ltB-ompL1/1 and ctB-ompL1/1 were constructed using linking primer PCR method. SDS-PAGE was used to examine expression of the target recombinant proteins rLTB-rOmpL1/1 and rCTB-rOmpL1/1. Western blot and GM1-ELISA were used to measure the immunogenic and GM(1)-binding activities of rLTB-rOmpL1/1 and rCTB-rOmpL1/1, respectively. PCR and MAT were performed to detect the expression of ompL1 gene in 97 wild L.interrogans strains. Antibodies against ompL1 gene products in serum samples of 228 leptospirosis patients were detected with ELISA method.

RESULTSThe homogeneity of nucleotide and putative amino acid sequence of ltB-jompL1/1 and ctB-ompL1/1 fusion genes were 99.7 % - 99.9 % and 99.5 % - 100 %, in comparison with the reported corresponding sequences. Expression outputs of both rLTB-rOmpL1/1 and rCTB-rOmpL1/1, mainly present in inclusion body, accounted for 10% of the total bacterial protein. Both rLTB-rOmpL1/1 and rCTB-rOmpL1/1 could combine to rabbit anti-rOmpL1/1 serum and bovine GM(1). 89.7 % of L.interrogans wild strains had ompL1 gene. 87.6% of the wild L.interrogans strains presented positive results for MAT (titers :1:4-1:256) with the rabbit anti-rOmpL1/1 or anti-rOmpL1/2 sera. 86.8% and 88.6% of the patients' serum samples were positive for rOmpL1/1 and rOmpL1/2 antibodies, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe fusion proteins, rLTB-rOmpL1/1 and rCTB-rOmpL1/1, showed high immunogenic and GM(1)-binding activities. ompL1 gene is extensively distributed and frequently expressed in different serogroups of L.interrogans and its products expressed by different genotypes exhibit extensive cross-antigenicity.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Bacterial Toxins ; genetics ; Bacterial Vaccines ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Enterotoxins ; genetics ; Escherichia coli Proteins ; genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; genetics ; Humans ; Leptospira interrogans ; genetics ; immunology ; Prokaryotic Cells ; metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Vaccines, Synthetic ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo determine the effects of leptospiral strains with different virulence on intracellular free Ca(2+)level and its relation with phospholipase C (PLC) activity of L.interrogans.

METHODSL.interrogans-j infection cell modals were established with Vero and J774A.1 cell lines. Vero and J774A.1 cells were co-incubated with L.interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar lai strain 56601 (strong virulence) and serogroup Pomona serovar pomona strain 56608 (weak virulence) and L.biflexa serogroup Samaranga serovar patoc strain Patoc I (non-virulence). Intracellular free Ca(2+)levels were detected by laser scanning confocal microscopy with specific fluorescence labeling of fluoj3/AM. Using [(3)H] PIP2 as the substrate, the PLC activities in the culture supernatant, and cytoplasma and cytomembrane of the three strains of Leptospira were measured by isotope assay.

RESULTSThe baseline intracellular free Ca(2+)levels in the normal Vero and J774A.1 cells were (102.3+/-8.2)% and (105.9+/-7.3)%,respectively. The fluorescence intensity in the two cell lines incubated with L.biflexa strain Patoc I were fluctuated in range of (102.3+/-8.2)%approximate, equals(102.2+/-8.3)% during the observation period. The intracellular free Ca(2+)levels in the two cell lines infected with L.interrogans strain 56601 showed elevation with double peak patterns, with first peaks of (430.5+/-35.7)%, (747.5+/-18.5)% and the second peak of (380.6+/-17.4)%, (804.6+/-22.4)%, respectively. When the cells were infected with L.interrogans strain 56608, the intracellular free Ca(2+)levels were rising slowly with a single slope-like pattern, with the maximal of (235.0+/-19.3)% in Vero cells and (402.4+/-17.4)% in J774A.1 cells, which were significantly lower than those in the cells infected with L.interrogans strain 56601 (P<0.01). The culture supernatants, and cytoplasma and cytomembrane proteins of all three strains displayed PLC activities (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe cells infected with L.interrogans of different virulence show distinct intracellular free Ca(2+)levels and peak patterns. The different host cell lines can affect the intracellular free Ca(2+)levels, which is not related to the PLC activity in the leptospiral strains.

Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Endocytosis ; Humans ; Leptospira interrogans ; enzymology ; pathogenicity ; Macrophages ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Type C Phospholipases ; metabolism ; Vero Cells ; Virulence

OBJECTIVETo determine the ability of adhering and invading to host cells and the related pathologic changes of Leptospira spp. with different virulence.

METHODSA special Fontana silver staining method was developed to observe the ability of L.interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar lai strain 56601 and serogroup Pomona serovar pomona strain 56608, and L.biflexa serogroup Samaranga serovar patoc strain Patoc I to adhere Vero and J774A.1 cells. Ultrastructural lesions of the infected cells were examined by electron microscopy. By using flow cytometry with fluorescein labeling of FITC-Annexin V/PI,apoptosis and necrosis of the Vero and J774A.1 cells induced by the leptospiral strains before and after inactivation with ultraviolet treatment were detected, respectively.

RESULTSThe adhering rates of L.interrogans strains 56601 and 56608 to the Vero cells were 24.2% and 22.9% (P>0.05), while to the J774A.1 cells were 49.0% and 46.9% (P>0.05), respectively. L.biflexa strain Patoc I did not adhere to these two host cells. After the two strains of L.interrogans invaded two different cell lines, the special phagosomes containing the Leptospira were formed and similar cell ultrastructural lesions, such as chromatilysis and chromatin condensation, vacuolar degeneration, mitochondrion swelling and mitochondrial crista disappearance, and endoplasmic reticulum swelling and paramembranous ribosome disappearance, were observed. The apoptosis rates in the Vero cells caused by the L.interrogans strains 56601 and 56608 before and after ultraviolet inactivation were 84.4%, 82.8% and 77.9%, 86.1%, respectively. The L.interrogans strain 56601 mainly induced the terminal apoptosis in Vero cells with the rates of 68.0% and 52.9% before or after inactivation, while the L.interrogans strain 56608 mainly induced the early apoptosis in Vero cells with apoptosis rates of 64.1% and 50.1% before or after inactivation. In the J774A.1 cells, the L.interrogans strain 56608 caused cell necrosis (before and after inactivation) and apoptosis that was dominated by terminal apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONThe established Fontana silver staining method can be used to observe adhesion of L.interrogans.L.interrogans can invade host cells through endocytosis which causes untrastructural lesions. The necrosis or apoptosis induced by L.interrogans are affected by different host cell lines but not the virulence of L.interrogans strains.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Cell Adhesion ; Cells, Cultured ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Endocytosis ; Humans ; Leptospira interrogans ; classification ; pathogenicity ; Macrophages ; microbiology ; ultrastructure ; Serotyping ; Vero Cells ; Virulence

A case of a patient with subgingivally fractured incisor was presented. Two weeks after root canal therapy, the subgingival fragment was restored with fiber post, resin core and temporary crown. Gingivoplasty was performed around. after the subgingival fragment had been elevated in the axial direction by means of edgewise fixed appliance. Stabilized and held for 6 months, the incisor was restored with all ceramic crown. Optimal esthetic was achieved when restoration was performed after rapid orthodontic extrusion which had lifted up the fracture line above the level of the gingival line within 14 days. At 6-month follow-up, the periodontal tissues were normal and neither luxation nor relapse was noted.
Crowns ; Dental Porcelain ; Esthetics ; Gingiva ; Humans ; Incisor ; Orthodontic Extrusion ; Post and Core Technique ; Root Canal Therapy ; Tooth Fractures