OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy differences between dog-days medicinal vesiculation and regular-day medicinal vesiculation for perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR), and observe their effects on serum immune globulin E (IgE) and interleukin-4 (IL-4).

METHODSSeventy-two patients were randomly divided into a dog-days moxibustion group (34 cases) and a regular-day moxibustion group (38 cases). In the dog-days moxibustion group, medicinal vesiculation was applied on the 1st dog-day, 2nd dog-day and last dog-day in summer by lunar calendar, 3 treatments per dog-day for totally 9 times. In the regular-day moxibustion group, the moxibustion was given on the regular day for continuous 9 times. The symptom score, rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) and the level of IgE and IL-4 were compared before and after treatment in two groups; the short-term and two-year efficacy evaluation were performed too.

RESULTSThe short-term total effective rate was 88.2% (30/34) in the dog-days moxibustion group, which was not significantly different to 86.8% (33/38) in the regular-day moxibustion group (P>0.05). The long-term total effective rate was 97.1% (33/34) in the dog-days moxibustion group, which was significantly superior to 81.6% (31/38) in the regular-day moxibustion group (P<0.05). After treatment, the serum IgE, IL-4 and RQLQ were significantly reduced (all P<0.01), but the difference between two groups was not significant (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONMedicinal moxibustion could be taken as a regular treatment for PAR, which could be performed during the whole year, and dog-days moxibustion could be considered as an enhanced method for prevention and treatment of PAR.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the written project approval Indexes System of Capital Medical Ddevelopment Research Foundation.We analyzed the approval results of application projects and proposed measures to improve the index system.Methods We evaluated its reliability with Cronbach's alpha coefficient,split-half reliability; validity was evaluated with contract validity and content validity,discrimination was studies according to discretion grouping law,and feasibility was studied with the percentage-of-completion method.Results ① Reliability:Cronbach's alpha coefficient of factor and total scores'and split-half reliability were all over 0.80.②Contract validity:the standard factor loading coefficients of the index system were over 0.70 (range:0.57～0.86),indicating path performed well.All factor loading coefficients were statistical significant (T-values were 30.49～54.25,all were over 1.96).Fit Indexes (RMSEA =0.065、NNFI =0.99、IFI =0.99、CFI =0.99、GFI =0.95、AGFI =0.93、X2 =1028.21、X2/DF =11.82) indicated the system's goodness of fit was good.③ Content validity:Scale-level CVI,S-CVI was 0.97 and Interrater agreement was 0.93,over 0.90,which indicated that indexes system's whole Content validity performed well.Except for the item Academic thought item-level CVI being 0.57 all items' item-level CVI were 1.00.④Discrimination:Discrimination index of every primary index,secondary index and total score ranged from 0.51 to 0.76 (all were over 0.40),meaning that discrimination performed extremely well.Conclusion The indexes system's reliability,contract validity,content validity and discrimination conformed to the actual application projects appraisal results.

To knock out β-lactoglobulin (BLG) gene and insert human lactoferrin (hLF) coding sequence at BLG locus of goat, the transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALEN) mediated recombination was used to edit the BLG gene of goat fetal fibroblast, then as donor cells for somatic cell nuclear transfer. We designed a pair of specific plasmid TALEN-3-L/R for goat BLG exon III recognition sites, and BLC14-TK vector containing a negative selection gene HSV-TK, was used for the knock in of hLF gene. TALENs plasmids were transfected into the goat fetal fibroblast cells, and the cells were screened three days by 2 μg/mL puromycin. DNA cleavage activities of cells were verified by PCR amplification and DNA production sequencing. Then, targeting vector BLC14-TK and plasmids TALEN-3-L/R were co-transfected into goat fetal fibroblasts, both 700 μg/mL G418 and 2 μg/mL GCV were simultaneously used to screen G418-resistant cells. Detections of integration and recombination were implemented to obtain cells with hLF gene site-specific integration. We chose targeting cells as donor cells for somatic cell nuclear transfer. The mutagenicity of TALEN-3-L/R was between 25% and 30%. A total of 335 reconstructed embryos with 6 BLG-/hLF+ targeting cell lines were transferred into 16 recipient goats. There were 9 pregnancies confirmed by ultrasound on day 30 to 35 (pregnancy rate of 39.1%), and one of 50-day-old fetus with BLG-/hLF+ was achieved. These results provide the basis for hLF gene knock-in at BLG locus of goat and cultivating transgenic goat of low allergens and rich hLF in the milk.
Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; genetics ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; Gene Knock-In Techniques ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Goats ; genetics ; Humans ; Lactoferrin ; genetics ; Lactoglobulins ; genetics ; Milk ; chemistry ; Nuclear Transfer Techniques ; Plasmids ; Pregnancy ; Transfection

Objective To establish a method for determining benzoylaconine, aconitine and 3-deoxyaconitine in Aconitum pendulum and the habitually medicinal materials by HPLC; To provide basis for control of quality standard toxicity composition in Aconitum pendulum and difference between Aconitum pendulum and the habitually medicinal materials. Methods Agilent Eclipse XDB-C18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm,5 μm) was used at 25 ℃ with the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-0.04% trimethylamine (each 1000 mL of water plus 4 mL triethylamine and 1.68 mL phosphoric acid) by gradient elution; detection wavelength was 235 nm; the flow rate was 1 mL/min; injection volume was 10 μL. Results The benzoylaconine, aconitine and 3-deoxyaconitine had good separation and linear relationship in the corresponding range (r＞0.999). The average recovery rates were 97.66%–98.47%, and RSD were 0.84%–1.60%. Conclusion The contents of 3 alkaloid were different in Aconitum pendulum and the habitually medicinal materials. Both A. polyschistum and A. sessiliflorum need separate drug names.

Objective To provide basis for the traceability and safty of Bangna-Tiebangchui according to textual research on the name and base resource of Bangna-Tiebangchui. Methods On the basis of literature textual research, combining herbal and modern Chinese (Tibetan) medicine specifications, literature research, medicinal name interpretation method and plant classification method were used for comprehensive analysis. Results Si Bu Yi Dian records toxic herb medicine of Banganabao. Jing Zhu Ben Cao divides Banganabao into five kinds with different types of efficacy according toxicity and colors, and records Langqingqietu (Tiebangchui) with similar toxicity from Yin Mountain or Han Areas. Base resource of Banganabao includes ten kinds of ranunculaceae aconitum plants. Conclusion Bangna (????? Tibetan transliteration) is the most toxic kind of Banganabao according to textual research, which is also named as Tiebangchui (TCM name) now. Bangna is widely used in anti-inflammation, analgesia, and local anesthesia, which base resource is Aconitum pendulum Busch and dry roots of A. flavum Hand.-Mazz.

The essence of endogenous turbidity in Chinese medicine (CM) is different from cream, fat, phlegm, retention, damp, toxicity, and stasis. Along with the development of modern scientific technologies and biology, researches on the essence of endogenous turbidity should keep pace with the time. Its material bases should be defined and new connotation endowed at the microscopic level. The essence of turbidity lies in abnormal functions of zang-fu organs. Sugar, fat, protein, and other nutrient substances cannot be properly decomposed, but into semi-finished products or intermediate metabolites. They are inactive and cannot participate in normal material syntheses and decomposition. They cannot be transformed to energy metabolism, but also cannot be synthesized as executive functioning of active proteins. If they cannot be degraded by autophagy-lysosome or ubiquitin-prosome into glucose, fatty acids, amino acids, and other basic nutrients to be used again, they will accumulate inside the human body and become endogenous turbidity. Therefore, endogenous turbidity is different from final metabolites such as urea, carbon dioxide, etc., which can transform vital qi. How to improve the function of zang-fu organs, enhance its degradation by autophagy-lysosome or ubiquitin-prosome is of great significance in normal operating of zang-fu organs and preventing the emergence and progress of related diseases.
Autophagy ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex

OBJECTIVETo study the validity and accuracy of differing cutoff scores of the Ages and Stages Questionnaires-Chinese (ASQ-C) for screening infants and toddlers in comparison with the gold standard, Bayley Scale of Infant Development, Second Edition (BSID II).

METHODThe 269 samples were enrolled from the normative children, aged 3 - 31 months, of the ASQ-C in Shanghai. The age-appropriate ASQ-Cs were completed by parents/caregivers and the BSIDIIwas administered by professionals. The cutoff scores of -2 standard deviation (s), -1.5 s, and -s for the ASQ-C were examined against BSID II with the cutoff scores set at -2 s as the standard of developmental delay, -s as the standard of suspected developmental delay and developmental delay respectively. Agreement between the classifications of the ASQ-C (i.e., typical, suspected, delay) was compared with the classification of the BSID II (typical, suspected, delay), sensitivity, specificity, Youden Index and area under ROC curve of ASQ-C were examined. The statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS 13.0.

RESULTWhen the cutoff score for BSID II was -2 s, the -2 s cutoff score for ASQ-C exhibited the following properties: the highest agreement of 83.64%, the sensitivity and specificity both above 80% being respectively 88.46% and 83.13%, the highest Youden Index of 0.72 and the largest area of 0.86 under ROC curve. The -1.5 s cutoff score for ASQ-C showed the following properties: 71.75% agreement, 100% sensitivity, 68.72% specificity, Youden Index = 0.69, the area under ROC curve = 0.84. The -s cutoff score for ASQ-C showed the following properties: the lowest agreement of 55.02%, 100% sensitivity, the lowest specificity of 50.21%, the lowest Youden Index of 0.50, and the smallest area of 0.75 under ROC curve. When the cutoff score for BSID II was set at -s, the -2 s for ASQ-C showed the following properties: the highest agreement of 85.87%, the lowest sensitivity of 68.57%, the highest specificity of 91.96%, Youden Index = 0.61, the smallest area = 0.77 under ROC curve. The -1.5 s for ASQ-C showed the following properties: the agreement of 80.67%, the sensitivity and specificity both above 70% being respectively 85.71% and 78.89%, the highest Youden Index of 0.65, the largest area of 0.82 under ROC. The -s cutoff score for ASQ-C showed the following properties: the lowest agreement of 68.40%, the highest sensitivity of 94.29%, the lowest specificity of 59.30%, the lowest Youden Index of 0.54, and the area under ROC curve = 0.80. When the cutoff score for BSID II was -1 to 2 s, the identifying percentages of the -2 s, -1.5 s and -s for the ASQ-C were 56.82%, 77.27% and 90.91%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONFor developmental delay identification, the -2 s cutoff score for ASQ-C produces the most robust validity and highest accuracy; for the identification of suspected developmental delay and developmental delay, the -1.5 s cutoff score for ASQ-C has the highest screening accuracy with appropriate sensitivity and specificity; for identifying the suspected developmental delay, the -s cutoff score for ASQ-C has the highest percentage of the identification. It is necessary to add 1 - 2 s to the ASQ-C's cutoff scores as the standard for screening suspected developmental delays.

Child Development ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Infant ; Mass Screening ; Reference Standards ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; standards

OBJECTIVETo study the changes and significance of Toll-like receptor-2 (TLR2) and Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) on platelets, CD86 on lymphocytes and concentrations of IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-10 in serum in children with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).

METHODSPeripheral blood samples were collected from 24 children with acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (AITP), 21 children with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (CITP) and 20 normal children (control group). Expression of TLR2 and TLR4 on platelets and CD86 on lymphocytes were detected by flow cytometry. Serum concentrations of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and IFN-gamma were measured using ABC-ELISA.

RESULTSThe expression of CD41+TLR2+ and CD61+TLR4+ in the AITP and the CITP groups were significantly lower than those in the control group (p<0.01). The AITP group had lower expression of CD41+TLR2+ and CD61+TLR4+ than the CITP group (p<0.01). The expression of CD86+ in the AITP and the CITP groups was significantly higher than that in the control group (p<0.01). The serum concentrations of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and IFN-gamma in the AITP and the CITP groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (p<0.05). There was a positive correlation between CD41+TLR2+ and CD61+TLR4+ expression. CD41+TLR2+ and CD61+TLR4+ expression were negatively correlated with CD86+ expression and serum concentrations of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10.

CONCLUSIONSThe detections of TLR2 and TLR4 on platelets, CD86 on lymphocytes and serum concentrations of IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-10 are of great value in understanding the pathogenesis and predicting types of ITP in children.

Adolescent ; B7-2 Antigen ; blood ; Blood Platelets ; chemistry ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cytokines ; blood ; Humans ; Infant ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; immunology ; Toll-Like Receptor 2 ; blood ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; blood

Objective To identify factors closely associated with plasma B type natriuretic peptide (BNP)and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretie peptide (NT-proBNP) levels.Methods A total of 1983 people(mean 66 years-old and 694 male) underwent annual health check-up in 2006 in Okuizumo district were ineluded in this study.Blood pressure,electrocardiogram,conventional blood examination,plasma BNP and NT-proBNP were measured.Results BNP is positively correlated with NT-proBNP(r=0.89,P