OBJECTIVETo evaluate the impacts on the short-term efficacy and the long-term prevention of recurrence of allergic rhinitis treated with the triple-strong stimulation at Dazhui (GV 14) so as to provide the convenient and long-term effective therapy of acupuncture and moxibustion for allergic rhinitis.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty cases of allergic rhinitis were randomized into an acupuncture group, an acupuncture + medication group and a triple-strong stimulation group, 40 cases in each one. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied at Dazhui (GV 14), Fengchi (GB 20), Baihui (GV 20), Yintang (GV 29) and the others, stimulating with reinforcing manipulation for the deficiency and reducing manipulation for the excess, once every day. In the acupuncture + medication group, on the basis of acupuncture therapy, claritin (loratadine tablets) was supplemented for oral administration, 10 mg, once every two days, continuously for 30 days. In the triple-strong stimulation group, on the basis of acupuncture therapy, the strong needling, strong cupping and strong moxibustion were applied at Dazhui (GV 14). This combined therapy was given once every day in the first 3 days and once every two days afterwards. The 10 day treatment made one session, at the interval of 3 days between the sessions and totally 3 sessions were required in the three groups. Separately, before treatment, after treatment and in 6 months after treatment, the changes of symptom and physical sign score and value of single item symptom including nasal itching, nasal blockage, sneezing and rhinorrhea were observed in the patients of the three groups. And the long-term clinical efficacy was compared among the three groups.

RESULTSThe symptom and physical sign score and the value of single item symptom were all reduced in the three groups after treatment and in 6 months after treatment (P < 0.001, P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The results in the triple-strong stimulation group were superior to the other two groups (all P < 0.05). In the triple-strong stimulation group, the total effective rate was 92.5% (36/40) in the follow-up of 6 months after treatment, which was better than 60.5% (23/38) in the acupuncture group and 69.2% (27/39) in the acupuncture + medication group (both P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe combined therapy of acupuncture and the triple-strong stimulation at Dazhui (GV 14) achieves the reliable and effective result in the clinical treatment of allergic rhinitis and displays the good role on the prevention from long-term recurrence.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; therapy ; Young Adult

Purpose: Re-irradiation for bulky recurrent sarcoma carries significant risks. Pulsed low-dose rate radiotherapy (PLDR) is an attractive option for re-irradiation due to inherent radiobiological advantages. Materials and Methods: We present two patients who underwent reirradiation using PLDR technique, followed by a literature review. Results: The first case is that of a 76-year-old male who developed an in-field recurrence of a bulky pelvic bone high-grade chondrosarcoma after he was treated with definitive radiotherapy using helical TomoTherapy with a total dose of 66 Gy. The patient was re-irradiated using PLDR with a shrinking field technique; 50 Gy in 2 Gy fractions followed by a boost of 20 Gy in 2 Gy fractions. The patient remains disease-free without significant toxicity 60 months post-irradiation. The second case is that of an 82-year-old female who was treated with a definitive irradiation of 66 Gy in 33 fractions for a right shoulder grade II chondrosarcoma. She developed an in-field recurrence 28 months later and presented with bulky disease causing brachial plexopathy and lymphedema. The patient was re-irradiated with a palliative intent to a total dose of 50 Gy in 2 Gy fractions over 5 weeks using PLDR. Brachial plexopathy resolved shortly after re-irradiation, but local progression near the surface was evident 8 months later. She passed away from unrelated causes 11 months later. Conclusion We present two cases highlighting our early experience with PLDR, which was effective in the reirradiation of recurrent bony sarcoma. Our study highlights PLDR as an option for reirradiation in recurrent unresectable tumors.

OBJECTIVETo investigate association of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms with the susceptibility to chronic periodontitis (CP) of Han Nationality.

METHODSBuccal swabs from 166 patients with severe, moderate and mild CP respectively and 80 matched control individuals were collected. DNA was extracted from these buccal swabs using Chelex-100 method. VDR BsmI, ApaI, TaqI were tested with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The distribution of the genotypes and allele frequencies in the patient and control groups were analyzed.

RESULTSThe frequency of VDR ApaI allele A was significantly higher among patients with CP than controls. Frequencies of VDR ApaI allele A were significantly higher in severe CP patients than in moderate CP and mild CP respectively. There was no significant difference in the genotype distribution or the allele frequencies of VDR BsmI and TaqI between the controls and CP patients.

CONCLUSIONSThese data indicate that VDR ApaI allele A may be related to the susceptibility to CP in Han Nationality.

Adult ; Aged ; Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Chronic Periodontitis ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Calcitriol ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the ability of a polycaprolactone/polylactic acid (PCL/PLA) membrane to inhibit epidural scar adhesion after laminectomy, and observe the responsive changes of the pain media in the spinal cord.

METHODSL(1), L(3) laminectomies were performed on 96 Wistar rats. The rats were divided into 3 groups: None-implant Control Group (NC), Autologous free fat graft group (AFFG) and PCL/PLA membrane group (PCL/PLAm). The rats were killed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 weeks postoperatively. Epidural scar formation and adhesion were observed grossly and histologically. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to analyses the expression of Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) in the epidural scar. Immunohistochemistry stain and RT-PCR were performed to evaluate the expression of the substance P and the c-fos gene in the relevant spinal cord, and the results were analyzed statistically.

RESULTSGross evaluation and histological evaluation showed that in the NC lamina defect site had much scar tissue and had wide and tight adhesions to the dura; in the AFFG, with the fat degrading gradually, the adhesions were increased; whereas in the PCL/PLAm group, there were slightly adhesions to the dura. RT-PCR showed that the expression of the TGF-beta was much less in the PCL/PLAm group than in the NC group. The insertion of the PCL/PLA membrane and the fat patch reduced the expression of the substance P and the c-fos gene in the spinal cord.

CONCLUSIONThe insertion of the PCL/PLA membrane reduces scar formation and separates fibrosis tissue from the dura, the results indicate that PCL/PLA membrane is an effective way of reducing peridural scar formation and preventing the failed back surgery syndrome.

Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; Cicatrix ; prevention & control ; Female ; Lactic Acid ; Laminectomy ; adverse effects ; Membranes, Artificial ; Polyesters ; Polymers ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Prosthesis Implantation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; biosynthesis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spinal Cord ; metabolism ; Spinal Diseases ; prevention & control ; Substance P ; biosynthesis ; Tissue Adhesions ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo establish human bronchial epithelial cell lines over expressing oncogene and to investigate its application in detection of carcinogen-induced cell transformation.

METHODSMediated by retrovirus infection, human telomerase catalytic subunit, hTERT was introduced into immortal human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE) and followed by introduction of the oncogenic allele H-Ras(V12), or c-Myc or empty vector, creating cell lines 16HBETR, 16HBETM and 16HBETV, respectively. Biological characteristics of these cell lines including morphology, proliferation, and chromosomal aberration were examined to access whether they were transformed. Soft agar experiment and nude mice subcutaneous injection were performed using pre-transformed 16HBE cells induced by known carcinogens, nickel sulfate (NiSO4) and 7, 8, -dihydrodiol-9, 10-epoxide benzo[a] pyrene (BPDE).

RESULTSWith detection of telomerase activity and Western blotting, the expression of target proteins was verified. Thus, the transgenic 16HBE cell lines were successfully established. Cells expressing oncogene H-Ras or c-Myc grew 30.3% or 10.4% faster than control cells. However, these cells failed to form colonies in soft agar or form tumor in nude mice. 16HBETR, 16HBETM cells obtained transformed phenotype at 5 wks, 11 wks, respectively after treatment with BPDE, which are 15 wks and 9 wks earlier than control cells 16HBETV (20 wks). Meanwhile, 16HBETR, 16HBETM cells obtained transformed phenotype at 11 wks, 14 wks, respectively after treatment with nickel sulfate, which are 21 wks and 18 wks earlier than control cells (32 wks).

CONCLUSIONWith the advantage of shorter latency, transgenic human cell transformation models could be used in potent carcinogen screening and applied to chemical-carcinogenesis mechanism study.

7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide ; toxicity ; Animals ; Carcinogenicity Tests ; Cell Line ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Epithelial Cells ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genes, myc ; Genes, ras ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of the three therapies of strong stimulation for children peripheral facial palsy so as to deal with the problem on the inactive acceptance of acupuncture in children.

METHODSEighty cases of children peripheral facial palsy were randomized into a moxa stick group (group A) and a group with three therapies of strong stimulation (group B). Baihui (GV 20), Sibai (ST 2), Dicang (ST 4), Jiache (ST 6) and the other acupoints were selected in the two groups and stimulated with half-needling technique. In the group A, 3 moxa sticks were bunched together for surrounding moxibustion over one of Dazhui (GV 14), Yangbai (GB 14), Xiaguan (ST 7) and Jiache (ST 6) in each treatment. In the group B, the strong pricking therapy, strong cupping therapy and strong moxibustion were adopted at the same acupoints as the group A. The treatment was given twice every day in the first 5 days. Afterwards, the clinical efficacy was analyzed statistically. The treatment was kept on for the effective case. Those with failed effect were transferred to the other group. Since the 6th day, the treatment was given once every day. In 15 days, the clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups and House-Brackmann (H-B) facial nerve function grade was compared before and after treatment.

RESULTSIn 5 days of treatment, the total effective rate was 94.7% (36/38) in the group B, which was better than 52.4% (22/42) in the group A, (P < 0.001). In 15 days of treatment, the cured rate and the total effective rate in the group B were 67.3% (35/52) and 96.2% (50/52), which were better than 9.5% (2/21) and 85.7% (18/21) in the group A, respectively (P < 0. 001, P < 0.05). Additionally, the result of H-B facial nerve function grade in the group B was superior to the group A (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe half-needling technique and the three therapies of strong stimulation in combination achieve the superior efficacy on children peripheral facial palsy as compared with the half-needling technique combined with moxa stick therapy. And the obvious adverse reaction has not been found.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Facial Paralysis ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Moxibustion ; Treatment Outcome

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of intracellular acidification on the P-gp in K562/A02 cells. Confocal laser microscope was used to determine the intracellular acidification. MTT assay was used to detect the cytotoxicity of intracellular acidification on K562 and K562/A02 cells. Flow cytometry was applied to measure the influence of intracellular acidification on the activity of P-gp. The P-gp expression at protein and mRNA levels were determined by Western blot and real-time RT-PCR respectively. The results indicated that intracellular acidification had no obvious cytotoxicity on K562 and K562/A02 cells. The function of P-gp in K562/A02 cells weakened along with decrease of intracellular acidification, the intracellular acidification significantly increased the accumulation of Rhodamine 123 (Rh 123) and suppressed the efflux of Rh 123 mediated by P-gp. The intracellular acidification also inhibited the expression of P-gp in K562/A02 cells at protein and mRNA levels which showed intracellular acidification with time-dependence. It is concluded that the intracellular acidification can inhibit the expression and function of P-gp in K562/A02 cells.
ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family B ; ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; metabolism ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; K562 Cells

OBJECTIVETo investigate the ultrastructural changes of duodenal mucosas and their significance in patients with liver cirrhosis (PLC).

METHODSEndoscopic biopsy duodenal mucosa specimens of 60 PLC and 18 healthy volunteers as controls were obtained. Ultrastructural changes of them were studied with transmission electron microscopy. These PLC were divided into groups A, B and C according to the Child-Pugh classification. The ultrastructural changes in the duodenal mucosas of each group were rated and compared with those of the other groups. PLC with and without ultrastructural changes of duodenal mucosas were divided into a positive group and a negative group. Levels of plasma Alb, TBil, PT, plasma endotoxin, and blood ammonia of the PLC were detected and compared.

RESULTSThere were 20 PLC each in groups A, B, and C. Ultrastructural changes of duodenal mucosas were found in 5 PLC of group A, 9 in group B and 17 in group C. Among the 60 PLC, 52% had some changes in their duodenal mucosas. The changes included decrease and rupture of the microvilli; also karyopyknosis, karyorrhexis, widening of the gaps of the tight junction and tumefactions of mitochodrion of duodenal mucosa epithelial cells. No ultrastructural changes of duodenal mucosas were found in the control group. The rate of changes in the three Child-Pugh class groups and in the control group were 25%, 45%, 85%, 0% respectively (P < 0.01). The level of Alb of the positive group was significantly lower than that of the negative group (P < 0.01). Levels of plasma TBil, PT, endotoxin and blood ammonia of the positive group were significantly higher or longer than those of the negative group (P < 0.01). Levels of plasma Alb of the positive and negative groups were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.01). Levels of TBil, PT, plasma endotoxin and blood ammonia of the positive and negative groups were significantly higher or longer than those of the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThere were ultrastructural changes of duodenal mucosas in PLC, especially in end-stage PLC. Ultrastructural changes of intestinal mucosas in the PLC may have important pathophysiological and clinical significance.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Intestine, Small ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Liver Cirrhosis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of paclitaxel, quizartinib and their combination on proliferation, apoptosis and FLT3/STAT5 pathway of human leukemia cell line MV4-11 (FLT3-ITD+). METHODS: MV4-11 cells were treated with paclitaxel and quizartinib at different concentrations for 24 h, 48 h and 72 h, respectively, and then the two drugs were combined at 48 h to compare the inhibition of proliferation, the apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry, the expression of FLT3 and STAT5 mRNA was determined by fluorescence quantitative PCR, and the protein expression of FLT3, p-FLT3, STAT5 and p-STAT5 was determined by Western blot. RESULTS: Different combination groups of paclitaxel and quizartinib had synergistic inhibitory effect. The cell survival rate in the combination group was significantly lower than that in the single drug group (P<0.05). The cell apoptosis rate in the combination group was significantly higher than that in the single drug group (P<0.001). The expression of FLT3 mRNA in combination group was significantly higher than that in two single drugs (P<0.01). The expression of STAT5 mRNA in combination group was significantly higher than that in quizartinib group (P<0.001); increased compared with paclitaxel group, but there was no statistical significance. The expression level of p-FLT3、p-STAT5 protein in the combination group was significantly lower than that in the single drug group (P<0.05, P<0.05). CONCLUSION Paclitaxel combined with quizartinib can synergistically inhibit the proliferation of MV4-11 cell line and promote the apoptosis of MV4-11 cell line by inhibiting the activity of FLT3/STAT5 pathway.
Apoptosis ; Benzothiazoles ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics* ; Paclitaxel/therapeutic use* ; Phenylurea Compounds ; RNA, Messenger ; STAT5 Transcription Factor/pharmacology* ; Signal Transduction ; fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3

BACKGROUNDBiliverdin (BV) has a protective role against ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). However, the protective role and potential mechanisms of BV on lung IRI (LIRI) remain to be elucidated. Thus, we aimed to investigate the protective role and potential mechanisms of BV on LIRI.

METHODSLungs were isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats to establish an ex vivo LIRI model. After an initial 15 min stabilization period, the isolated lungs were subjected to ischemia for 60 min, followed by 90 min of reperfusion with or without BV treatment.

RESULTSLungs in the I/R group exhibited significant decrease in tidal volume (1.44 ± 0.23 ml/min in I/R group vs. 2.41 ± 0.31 ml/min in sham group; P< 0.001), lung compliance (0.27 ± 0.06 ml/cmH2O in I/R group vs. 0.44 ± 0.09 ml/cmH2O in sham group; P< 0.001; 1 cmH2O=0.098 kPa), and oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) levels (64.12 ± 12 mmHg in I/R group vs. 114 ± 8.0 mmHg in sham group; P< 0.001; 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa). In contrast, these parameters in the BV group (2.27 ± 0.37 ml/min of tidal volume, 0.41 ± 0.10 ml/cmH2O of compliance, and 98.7 ± 9.7 mmHg of PaO2) were significantly higher compared with the I/R group (P = 0.004, P< 0.001, and P< 0.001, respectively). Compared to the I/R group, the contents of superoxide dismutase were significantly higher (47.07 ± 7.91 U/mg protein vs. 33.84 ± 10.15 U/mg protein; P = 0.005) while the wet/dry weight ratio (P < 0.01), methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (1.92 ± 0.25 nmol/mg protein vs. 2.67 ± 0.46 nmol/mg protein; P< 0.001), and adenosine triphosphate contents (297.05 ± 47.45 nmol/mg protein vs. 208.09 ± 29.11 nmol/mg protein; P = 0.005) were markedly lower in BV-treated lungs. Histological analysis revealed that BV alleviated LIRI. Furthermore, the expression of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-β) was downregulated and the expression of cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and Jun N-terminal kinase was significantly reduced in BV group (all P< 0.01 compared to I/R group). Finally, the apoptosis index in the BV group was significantly decreased (P < 0.01 compared to I/R group).

CONCLUSIONBV protects lung IRI through its antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects.