OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy of Chibixiao Recipe (CBX) in combination with minocycline and spironolactone in treating rosacea in females.

METHODSSixty-eight women with rosacea were randomly assigned to the treated group (48 cases) and the control group (20 cases), both of which were treated with minocycline and spironolactone taken orally, but to the treated group, the Chinese herbal recipe, CBX was given additionally. Besides, cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen was applied to those with apparent capillary dilatation. The therapeutic course for both groups was 8 weeks. The levels of serum testosterone before and after treatment were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA), and a 4-month follow-up was conducted.

RESULTSIn the treated group the cure-markedly effective rate was 87.5% and the recurrent rate was 6.5%, while in the control group, they were 45.0% and 41.2% respectively. Comparisons in the indexes between the two groups all showed significant difference (both P<0.01), with the cure-markedly effective rate higher, and the recurrent rate lower in the treated group. The serum level of testosterone got lowered in both groups ( P<0.05 and P<0.01), but the lowering in the treated group was more significant, showing significance when compared with that in the control group ( P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONCBX in combination with Western medicine has effect in treating rosacea superior to that of Western medicine alone, and could effectively reduce recurrent rate and the serum level of testosterone. female rosacea, testosterone, Chibixiao Recipe, minocycline, spironolactone

Adult ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Minocycline ; administration & dosage ; Recurrence ; Rosacea ; blood ; drug therapy ; Spironolactone ; administration & dosage ; Testosterone ; blood

Objective To investigate the interactions between histone deacetylas-1 (silent information regulator of transcription 1,SirT1) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) following exposure to oxidative stress of retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) cells through gene knockout and overexpression techniques.Methods RPE cell line was cultured in vitro,followed by addition of H2O2 for inducing oxidative stress.The targeting knockout strategy (siRNA/shRNA) was used for silencing SirT1/STAT3 gene and lentiviral vectors (pRC/CMV STAT3 and PCRC/CMV) were transfected to RPE cells.RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of SirT1/STAT3 due to gene knockout and overexpression and deeply analyze the effects of SirT1/STAT3 on RPE cells exposed to oxidative stress.Results SirT1 activator (resveratrol) significantly reduced the expression of STAT3 mRNA to (3.0 ± 0.2) (P =0.048);and after SifT1 knockout,the expression of STAT3 mRNA in RPE cells was significantly increased to (6.9 ± 1.1) (P =0.025).During the oxidative stress of RPE cells after SifT1 knockout,the expression of STAT3 and phosphorylated STAT3 protein were significantly increased to 0.990 ±0.031 and 0.544 ±0.019,respectively (P =0.000,0.003).With the condition of oxidative stress,the over-expression of STAT3 reduced the SirT1 mRNA expression to 0.42 ± 0.16 (P =0.022),but SifT1 mRNA expression was significantly increased to 2.8 ±0.85 (P =0.015) during STAT3 knockdown.Conclusion SifT1 has a negative effect on the regulation of STAT3 expression during oxidative stress,which suggests that there is an equilibrium mechanism between SirT1 and STAT3 against oxidative stress.

OBJECTIVETo observe the serological and epidemiological efficacy of hemorrhagic fever renal syndrome (HFRS) vaccine in Zhejiang province.

METHODSImmunofluorescent antibody assay and Mcro-CPE method were used to test specific IgG antibody and the titer of neutralizing antibody.

RESULTSTwo weeks after the injection of the third dose, the sero-conversion rates by both immunofluorescent antibody test (IgG) and neutralization test were 100.0% (67/67) (95% CI: 96.3 - 100.0) and 44.4% (8/18)(95% CI: 22.0 - 69.0) with geometric mean titers (GMTs) 72.1 and 4.6 respectively. The rates of seroconversion of immunofluorescent antibody by immunofluorescence antibody assay (IFA) were 28.6%, 83.3%, 75.0%, 53.1%, 22.6%, 10.0% and 55.0% before reinforcement, two weeks, one year, one year and a half years, two years, three years and five years after reinforcement. The rates of neutralizing antibody seroconversion by the Mcro-CPE method were found as 14.8%, 55.6%, 35.0%, 31.3%, 26.0%, 10.0% and 50.0% respectively. We found some antibody dependent immunization enhancement phenomenon among the inoculated population, but further observation was needed.

CONCLUSIONHFRS vaccine was immunologically effective and the duration of serous antibody last long.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; China ; epidemiology ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Hantaan virus ; immunology ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Immunization Schedule ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neutralization Tests ; Vaccination ; Viral Vaccines ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) treatment on the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX) 2 and microglia in spinal cord by using rat model of neuropathic pain, and to probe into the relationship between COX 2 and microglia.

METHODSThe rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, including normal control group, model group, sham group, EA 1 group (distant acupoints + local acupoints), EA 2 group (local acupoints), and EA 3 group (distant acupoints). Thermal withdrawal latencies were evaluated at 1 day preoperatively and 3, 5 and 7 days postoperatively. At 7 days postoperatively, the spinal COX 2 mRNA was detected by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Double immunofluorescent staining technology was applied to screen and verify the relationship between altered COX 2 and microglia.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, thermal withdrawal latencies increased after EA treatment (P<0.01). The expressions of COX 2 mRNA were up-regulated in spinal cord of rat on day 7 after surgery (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, EA stimulation (EA 1 and EA 2 groups) reversed the up-regulation of COX 2 mRNA expression (P<0.05). EA 1 and EA 2 groups might have better treatment effect compared with the EA 3 group. Fluorescent images displayed COX 2 and microglia expressed at common areas.

CONCLUSIONSEA was effective in analgesic and anti-inflammatory. EA has decreased the expression of spinal COX 2 mRNA in the trend of the therapeutic effect of "distant acupoints + local acupoints", and "local acupoints" intervention may be superior to that of "distant acupoints" intervention. Microglia may be related to the formation of COX 2.

BACKGROUND: Benvitimod cream, a novel synthetic small molecule, was effective in treating mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis. We conducted a phase III clinical trial to assess the efficacy and safety of benvitimod cream in patients with mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis. METHODS: We randomly assigned 686 patients (2:1:1) to receive 1% benvitimod cream, 0.005% calcipotriol ointment or placebo twice a day for 12 weeks. The primary efficacy end points were the percentage of patients with a 75% or greater reduction from baseline in the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI 75) score and with a score of 0 or 1 in static physician's global assessment (sPGA) at week 12. RESULTS: The results showed that 50.4% of patients in the benvitimod group achieved PASI 75, which was significantly higher than that in the calcipotriol (38.5%, P < 0.05) and placebo (13.9%, P < 0.05) groups. The proportion of patients achieving an sPGA score 0 or 1 was 66.3% in the benvitimod group and 63.9% in the calcipotriol group, which were both significantly higher than that in the placebo group (34%, P < 0.05). In the long-term follow-up study, 50.8% of patients experienced recurrence. After retreatment with 1% benvitimod, 73.3% of patients achieved an sPGA score of 0 or 1 again at week 52. Adverse events included application site irritation, follicular papules, and contact dermatitis. No systemic adverse reactions were reported. CONCLUSION: During this 12-week study, benvitimod cream was demonstrated with high effectiveness and safety in patients with mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis. TRIAL REGISTRATION Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR), ChiCTR-TRC-13003259; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=6300.
Double-Blind Method ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ointments ; Psoriasis/drug therapy* ; Resorcinols ; Severity of Illness Index ; Stilbenes ; Treatment Outcome