OBJECTIVETo compare the difference between the acupoint embedding therapy and polyene phosphatidylcholine capsules in the clinical efficacy on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) of liver stagnation and spleen deficiency pattern.

METHODSThe multi-center clinical trial was adopted and 180 cases of NAFLD of liver stagnation and spleen deficiency pattern were randomized into an embedding therapy group and a western medication group, 90 cases in each one. On the basis of general treatment such as diet control and proper physical exercise, in the embedding therapy group, the acupoint embedding therapy was applied to Ganshu (BL 18), Tai-chong (LR 3), Fenglong (ST 40), Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6), once every 7 days; in the western medication group, polyene phosphatidylcholine capsules (essentiale) were prescribed, 228 mg/capsule, 2 capsules each time, three times a day. In 6 months of treatment, TCM syndrome score, liver enzymology, blood lipid and abdomen B-ultrasound examination were observed and compared before and after treatment between the two groups.

RESULTS(1) For TCM syndrome score, the total score in the embedding therapy group was lower significantly than that in the western medication group (P<0. 05); (2) For liver enzymology and blood lipid, the levels of serum alanine transarninase (ALT), serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (AST), total cholesterol (TC) and triacylglycerol (TG) in the embedding therapy group were reduced significantly as compared with those in the western medication group (all P<0. 05); (3) For abdomen B-ultrasound examination, the fatty liver degree in the embedding therapy group was relieved significantly as compared with that in the western medication group (P< 0. 05); (4) For clinical efficacy, the total effective rate was 89. 8%o (79/88) in the embedding therapy group, higher significantly than 76. 7% (69/90) in the western medication group(P<0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe acupoint embedding therapy achieves the definite efficacy on NAFLD of liver stagnation and spleen deficiency pattern, better than polyene phosphatidylcholine capsules.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Catgut ; utilization ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Spleen ; physiopathology ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective:To observe the clinical effects of acupoint thread-embedding method for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in pattern of liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency.
Methods: A total of180 cases in conformity with the diagnostic criteria of NAFLD in pattern of liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, 90 cases in each group, and finally 88 cases in the treatment group and 90 cases in the control group were recruited for statistics. The treatment group was managed by acupoint thread-embedding method, and the control group was treated by oral administration of Polyene Phosphatidylcholine capsules. Both groups were treated for 6 months. Before and after the treatment, liver enzymology, blood fat test, abdominal B ultrasonic examination, and assessment of clinical effects were respectively processed.
Results:After treatment, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total cholesterol (TC), and triglyceride (TG) decreased in the treatment group, and were significantly different from those in the control group after treatment (allP<0.05). There was no statistically significant inter-group difference in the degree of fatty liver (by B ultrasound examination) before treatment (P>0.05). After treatment, the improvement degree of fatty liver in the treatment group was more significant than that in the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rates were 89.8% in the treatment group and 76.7% in the control group, with a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).
Conclusion:The acupoint thread-embedding method can reduce the levels of ALT, AST, TC and TG in NAFLD patients, and can improve the pathologic degree of fatty liver and its clinical effects are remarkably better than that of oral medications.

OBJECTIVE: To study the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow through the aqueduct of sylvius in chronic tension-type headache patients with phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging. METHODS: Phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the CSF flow through the aqueduct was obtained from 17 patients with chronic tension-type headache and 26 control subjects. A software for CSF flow was applied for MRI data analysis both qualitatively and quantitatively. RESULTS: The CSF through the aqueduct flew in the caudal and cranial directions with the rhythm of the heartbeat in both groups. There were 2 types of flow curves: the smooth "U" and the wave, which were 25 vs 1 in the controls and 11 vs 6 in the patients (P<0.05), respectively. The mean caudocranial flow rate through the aqueduct was (0.235±0.157) mL/s vs (0.133±0.106) mL/s (P<0.05) and the velocity was (6.023±2.654) cm/s vs (3.479±2.364) cm/s (P<0.05), and the mean craniocaudal flow rate was (-0.358±0.201) mL/s vs (-0.190±0.141) mL/s (P<0.05) and the velocity was (-8.263±3.020) cm/s vs (-4.788±2.862) cm/s (P<0.05), respectively. CONCLUSION The CSF flow curve, rate and velocity through the aqueduct in the patients with chronic tension-type headache is anomalous in comparison with the controls.
Case-Control Studies ; Cerebral Aqueduct ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; physiology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Tension-Type Headache ; cerebrospinal fluid

The anti-tumor activity of curcumin against androgen-independent prostate cancer cells in vitro and the possible mechanism were investigated. After curcumin treatment, the effect of curcumin on the proliferation of prostate cancer PC-3 cells was assessed by CFSE staining. Flow cytometery (FCM) was performed to analyze the cell cycle and the induction of apoptosis of tumor cells. A luciferase reporter gene assay was used to determine the effects of curcumin on the activities of intracellular NF-κB and AP-1 signaling pathways. The results showed curcumin could effectively inhibit the proliferation of PC-3 cells in vitro (P<0.05). Cells were arrested at G(2)/M phase. After curcumin treatment, the percentage of apoptotic cells was significantly higher than in control group (P<0.05). The results of the luciferase assay revealed that curcumin selectively inhibited the activities of the NF-κB and AP-1 signaling pathways in PC-3 cells significantly. It was suggested that curcumin could exert anti-tumor activity against androgen-independent prostate cancer cells in vitro by inhibiting cellular proliferation and inducing apoptosis, which was probably contributed to the inhibition of transcription factors NF-κB and AP-1.

OBJECTIVE: To diagnoze active ankylosing spondylitis (AAS) by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: MRI of the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) was performed on 48 patients who were clinically diagnosed as probable AS without radiologic evidence of sacroiliitis. Among them 21 were diagnozed as active sacroiliitis with MRI, whose examination was terminated; 27 whose MRI of SIJ did not diagnoze as active sacroiliitis were performed MRI in the thoracic spine. The diagnostic criteria of MRI for AAS of SIJ and/or the thoracic spine were fomulated by consulting documents. The definite diagnosis of AAS was finally made after follow-up for half a year. The sensitivity and specificity of the MRI of SIJ and/or MRI of thoracic spine were assessed. RESULTS: In the 48 patients without radiologic evidence of sacroiliitis, 38 were finally diagnosed as AAS, with established consensus criteria as reference standard. The sensitivity and specificity of the MRI of SIJ were 52.6% and 90.0%, and for the MRI of SIJ and/or the MRI of the thoracic spine 76.3% and 90.0%, respectively. CONCLUSION Clinically probable AS without MRI evidence of sacroiliitis, MRI of the thoracic spine can increase the sensitivity of AAS diagnosis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Sacroiliac Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; diagnosis ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; pathology ; Young Adult

The anti-tumor activity of curcumin against androgen-independent prostate cancer cells in vitro and the possible mechanism were investigated.After curcumin treatment,the effect of curcumin on the proliferation of prostate cancer PC-3 cells was assessed by CFSE staining.Flow cytometery (FCM) was performed to analyze the cell cycle and the induction of apoptosis of tumor cells.A luciferase reporter gene assay was used to determine the effects of curcumin on the activities of intracellular NF-κB and AP-1 signaling pathways.The results showed curcumin could effectively inhibit the proliferation of PC-3 cells in vitro (P＜0.05).Cells were arrested at G2/M phase.After curcumin treatment,the percentage of apoptotic cells was significantly higher than in control group (P＜0.05).The resuits of the luciferase assay revealed that curcumin selectively inhibited the activities of the NF-κB and AP-1 signaling pathways in PC-3 cells significantly.It was suggested that curcumin could exert anti-tumor activity against androgen-independent prostate cancer cells in vitro by inhibiting cellular proliferation and inducing apoptosis,which was probably contributed to the inhibition of transcription factors NF-κB and AP- 1.