Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Punctures ; Tennis Elbow ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of acupuncture on the immune function of sepsis patients.

METHODSNinety sepsis patients were assigned to the control group, the thymosin a1 group, and the acupuncture treatment group according to random digit table, 30 patients in each group. Patients in the control group were treated according to the guideline of Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC). Patients in the control group received routine treatment. Those in the thymosin alpha1 group additionally received subdermal injection of thymosin alpha1 (1.6 mg), once per day for 6 successive days. Needling at related points such as Zusanli (ST36), Yanglingquan (GB34), Neiguan (PC6), Guanyuan (RN4), and so on, was performed in patients of the acupuncture treatment group, once per day for 6 successive days. T cell subgroups (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+ /CD8+) and immunoglobulin levels (IgG, IgA, IgM) were detected. The length of ICU hospital stay, hospital readmission rate, and 28-day mortality were compared among the three groups.

RESULTSAfter six days of treatment, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, IgG, IgA, IgM, and CD4+ /CD8+ ratio of three groups were all significantly increased (P < 0.01). Of them, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, IgG, IgA, and IgM increased more significantly in the thymosin alpha1 group and the acupuncture treatment group (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the ICU hospitalization length was significantly shortened, the hospital readmission rate and the 28-day mortality were lower in the thymosin alpha1 group and the acupuncture treatment group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in each index between the thymosin alpha1 group and the acupuncture treatment group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture could adjust the immune function of sepsis patients, improve their immunological indicators and prognoses.

Acupuncture Therapy ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Prognosis ; Sepsis ; diagnosis ; immunology ; therapy ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; Thymosin ; analogs & derivatives

Objective To investigate the effects of rabbit carotid artery cannula on atherosclerosis formation and β-catenin expression.Methods Fifteen 2-month-old New Zealand rabbits weighing(2.0±0.2)kg were randomly divided into three groups,high-fat diet group,left common carotid artery cannula group and left common carotid artery cannula plus high-fat diet group,5 cases in each group,and taking the right blood vessels in the left common carotid artery cannula group served as the control group.The animals were sacrificed after 9-week feeding,and the total rabbit carotid artery in each group was taken;the real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to detect β-catenin mRNA and protein expression targeting in rabbit common carotid artery tissue.Results The real-time PCR results showed that the β-catenin mRNA expression in the left common carotid artery cannula group was higher than that in the control group,high fat diet group and the left common carotid artery cannula + high-fat diet group.The immunohistochemistry results showed that,except for the control group,various groups had the β-catenin protein location in the cytoplasma,moreover which in the left carotid artery cannula group and left common carotid artery cannula +high-fat diet group mainly located in the area of intimal hyperplasia.Conclusion β-catenin is highly expressed in the atherosclerotic vessel wall caused by rabbit carotid artery cannula.

Objective To investigate the management and timing of operation in obstructive acute biliary pancreatifis.Methods A etrospective review was performed of seventy-six consecutive patients who presented to a single tertiary care institution from 2000 to 2010 with obstructive acute biliary pancreatitis.Results Of the seventy-six patients,thirty-six patients underwent operations,with early(after onset within 2 weeks)operations in twenty cases,delayed operationsin sixteen cases and one case dead,no one experienced recurrent pancreatitis during follow-up.Fifteen patients were treated by endoscopy,ERCP/EST in eleven cases,ERCP/ENBD in one case and ERCP only in three case.All patients were cured,only one patient experienced recurrent pancreatitis.Twenty-five patients received conservative treatment,one patient died,six patients experienced recurrent panereatitis.Conclusions Surgery is essential in the management of acute biliary pancreatitis.In cases of obstructive acute biliary pancreatitis,early operation or endoscopic therapy should be performed to remove biliopancreatic obstruction after aggressive conservative treatment.

Aim The effect of tetrandrine on TGF-?1 mRNA expression in glomerulosclerosis rat was observed. Methods The rats were randomly divided into four groups, such as the normal control group (sham operative rat), glomerulosclerosis model group,tetrandrine group and amlodipine group. The expression of TGF-?1 mRNA was analyzed by Northern blot hybridization. Results The expressions of TGF-?1 mRNA in two treating groups were much lower than untreated model group. There were no difference between these two treating groups. Conclusion Tetrandrine can decrease the expression of TGF-?1 mRNA in glomerulosclerosis rat induced by unilateral renctomy plus adriamycin.

To further explore the clinical effect of massage therapy on navel,the related ancient literatures were arranged and analyzed,and several methods in ancient clinical were introduced, including stroking navel, rubbing navel, pushing navel, tapping navel and puffing navel. In addition, the theoretical basis of massage therapy on navel were discussed. The results revealed ancient literatures offered abundant theoretical basis to modern clinical practice, and there were evidences of treating gastroenteric and gynecological diseases with this therapy. Comprehensively, through the study of ancient literatures and modern research, therapy of massage on navel is believed to be promising and will gain popularity in the future.
China ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Massage ; history ; Medicine in Literature ; Umbilicus ; physiopathology

BACKGROUND:The effect of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) on bone resorption is controversial. Our previous study has shown that bone resorption is significantly inhibited when AGEs present with pre-osteoclast cells RAW 264.7, while the effect of AGEs on osteoclastic acidification remains unknown. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of AGEs on osteoclastic acidification and the underlying mechanism. METHODS:RAW 264.7 cells were induced by RANKL (15μg/L;normal group) to generate osteoclasts, and AGEs (50-400 mg/L;experimental group) or bovine serum albumin (100 mg/L;control group) were added at the beginning of the induction. The effect of AGEs on bone resorption was evaIuated by anaIyzing the area of bone resorption on the Osteo Assay Surface plates, and the effect of AGEs on osteoclastic acidification was evaluated by acridine orange staining. Furthermore, the expression levels of V-ATPase a3 and CIC-7 were detected to investigate the underlying mechanism. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The bone resorption area in the AGEs group was significantly decreased compared with the normal group (P<0.05). Acridine orange staining reveaIed that the red fluorescence (620 nm) intensity in the AGEs group was significantly decreased compared with the normal group (P<0.05), and this inhibitory effect became obvious with the increase of AGEs concentration. Immunocytochemistry, western blot assay and PCR findings showed that the expression levels of V-ATPase a3 and CIC-7 in the AGEs group were decreased significantly compared with the normal group (P<0.05). To conclude, AGEs exert inhibitory effect on osteoclastic acidification, probably by inhibiting the expression of V-ATPase a3 and CIC-7.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of combination chemotherapy with etoposide and cisplatin(EP)regimen on the patients with high-risk,chemorefractory and recurrent gestational trophoblastic neoplasia(GTN).Methods Thirty-nine patients with gestational trophoblastic tumors were analyzed retrospectively,25 of 39 patients were of high-risk,9 patients were chemorefractory and 5 patients were recurrent.All 39 patients were administrated with EP regimen,and 10 patients were assisted with surgery.All the patients were followed up.Clinical response,toxicity,the occurrence of secondary tumors of all patients,and the fertility of 30 patients whose fertility function was preserved were investigated. Results Thirty-nine GTN patients underwent a total of 221 cycles of the EP regimen.The average number of courses for each patient was 5.7.The total complete remission rate of the regimen was 74%(29/39). Twenty-five patients with high-risk GTN received a total of 139 cycles and the average number of courses was 5.6.Nineteen patients achieved complete remission and 6 patients showed drug-resistant.The complete remission rate of the high-risk group was 76%(19/25).Nine patients with chemorefractory GTN obtained a total of 55 cycles and the average number of courses was 6.1.Six patients achieved complete remission and 3 patients showed drug-resistant again.The complete remission rate of the chemorefractory group was 6/9. Five patients with recurrent GTN received 27 cycles and the average number of courses was 5.4.Four patients achieved complete remission,1 patient showed drug-resistance and died.Bone marrow toxicity, gastrointestinal reaction and alopecia were the main side effects of the EP regimen,but the bone marrow toxicity was slight and no grade Ⅳ side effect occurred.No fatal effect was found.Eight of 30 patients whose fertility faction was preserved had become pregnant after recovery,with a total of 8 pregnancies.Among them,2 were terminated by induced abortion,and 6 underwent normal term delivery and gained 6 infants who had no congenital malformation.All the 6 children had normal growth and development after childbirth. None of the women developed secondary tumors.Conclusion The EP regimen is effective and safe for the treatment of high-risk,chemorefractory and recurrent GTN.

AIM:To explore the effect of Xiangshahewei Pill(Radix Aucklandiae,Rhizoma Cyperi,Fructus Amomi,etc.)on secretion in anorectic rat model induced by Fenfluramine.METHODS:Anorectic rat model was induced by Fenfluramine in dose of 15 mg/kg for 8 days.Xiangshahewei Pill was administered orally to the rats also for 8 days.The volume of gastric juice,total gastric acid,mucus,acidity of gastric acid and activity of pepsin of rats were measured.RESULTS:Xiangshahewei Pill could improve the turbulence of gastric secretion in anorectic rat induced by Fenfluramine.Xiangshahewei Pill in dose of 0.75 g/kg(P

Objective To evaluate the characteristics and efficacy of microscope-assisted bilateral decompression via unilateral approach for the treatment of lumbar stenosis. Methods From June 2007 to June 2010, Sixty case lumbar stenosis with bilateral decompression were treated via unilateral approach under microscopy. Patients were followed up from 6 to 24 months, average (12 ± 4.7) months. Results The pain level of each patient was assessed both before and after the opeartion, using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Intermittent claudication was completely relieved in 57 out of 60 cases, moderately relieved in 3 cases. VAS score decreased from pre-operational 9.08 ± 0.76 to post-operational 2.33 ± 1.43, and there was significantly difference between them. There was no recurrent case during the whole follow-up. Conclusion Bilateral decompression via unilateral approach under microscope is proved to be an effective and safe procedure for the treatment of lumbar stenosis, and have the advantages of minimal invasion, less pain, quick recovery, better effect, little influence on the spinal stability.