OBJECTIVETo compare therapeutic effects of herb-partitioned spread moxibustion and western medicine on chronic nonspecific ulcerative colitis.

METHODSSixty cases were randomly divided into a spread moxibustion group (n = 28) and a western medicine group (n = 32). The spread moxibustion group was treated with herb-partitioned spread moxibustion at lower limb around stomach meridian, abdomen region around Guanyuan (CV 4) and lower Jiaji (EX B 2) points; and the western medicine group was treated with oral administration of Sulfasalazine. Their therapeutic effects were observed after treatment.

RESULTSThe cured-markedly effective rate was 71.4% (20/ 28) in the spread moxibustion group, and 25.0% (8/32) in the western medicine group, the former was better than the latter (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe therapeutic effect of herb-partitioned spread moxibustion for treatment of chronic nonspecific ulcerative colitis is better than that of the oral administration of Sulfasalazine with less adverse reaction, and is worth popularizing in clinic.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Chronic Disease ; therapy ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the classification basis of functional dyspepsia in disease menu of acupuncture, and to provide regular analyzing process for classification of other diseases.

METHODSTaking the control group as the classification basis, and the 5-level literature classification of evidence based medicine as the estimation basis, literatures which complied with the inclusion criteria were examined according to the sequence from high level to low. Evidences of low levels were given up if support can be acquired from documents of high level.

RESULTSAcupuncture is approved to be effective for intervention on functional dyspepsia. Compared to the international accepted medicines such as Cisapride and Motilium, regular acupuncture has better therapeutic effects and less side effects in improving the gastro-power and relieving discomfort sensations.

CONCLUSIONFunctional dyspepsia pertains to grade I of disease menu of acupuncture.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Dyspepsia ; classification ; therapy ; Humans ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Vascular endothelial growth factor-D (VEGF-D) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2, -3 (VEGFR-2, -3) with their corresponding signaling pathway play significant roles in the development of the embryonic vascular system and pathological lymphangiogenesis. The study was aimed to express and purify the GST-VEGF-D fusion protein, and to explore the angiogenesis effect of VEGF-D. The total RNA was extracted from human fetal lung tissue, and the mature form of VEGF-D was expanded by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), then the plasmid pGEX-5X-1/VEGF-D was reconstructed and the GST-VEGF-D fusion protein expressed in transformed E.coli BL21-DE3. The results showed that the molecular mass of this fusion protein was 38 kD and compassed more than 15% of the total bacteria proteins. The fusion protein was recognized by anti-GST and anti-VEGF-D antibodies. The soluble GST-VEGF-D fusion protein could interact with VEGFR-3/Fc and was able to stimulate the proliferation of human erythroleukemia cell line (HEL) cells. The data of chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) experiments indicated that GST-VEGF-D could induce the CAM angiogenesis. It is concluded that the GST-VEGF-D fusion protein with biological activity was successfully expressed, and which may provide an experimental model for the investigation of the VEGF-D-induced angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis.
Animals ; Chick Embryo ; Chorioallantoic Membrane ; blood supply ; Humans ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; pharmacology

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; Liver Cirrhosis/metabolism* ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 6 ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo examine the association of the Thr394Thr polymorphism of PPARGC1A gene with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), insulin resistance (IR) and other metabolic disorders in a Chinese population.

METHODSThree hundred and seven subjects including 151 T2DM patients and 156 normal glucose tolerant controls (NC) were enrolled in this study. The Thr394Thr G/A polymorphism was genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Glucose, insulin, lipids levels were determined in all subjects. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumferences, index of homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and blood pressure were also measured.

RESULTSThe diabetic subjects had higher levels of BMI, waist circumferences, blood systolic pressure, triglycerides and lower levels of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) compared with those of control subjects (P<0.05). About 43.7% (66/151) of the T2DM subjects had the AG genotype, while 37.2% (58/156) in the NC group. The frequency of the A allele was 0.225 in T2DM, and 0.186 in the NC subjects. There were no significant differences either in genotype or allelic distribution of G/A polymorphism between the two groups. In the T2DM group, subjects with AA and GA genotypes had significantly higher levels of HOMA-IR, waist circumferences and lower levels of HDL-C (P<0.05) than those carrying GG genotype. HOMA-IR in subjects with AA and AG were significantly higher than those with GG genotype in both groups.

CONCLUSIONThe A allele of the Thr394Thr (G-->A) polymorphism of the PPARGC1A gene was associated with insulin resistance, and may be related to central obesity and decreased HDL-C levels in Chinese population. The relationship between this polymorphism and T2DM needs further investigation.

Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism

AIM:To study the growth-inhibiting and proapoptotic effects of Pim-1 kinase inhibitor SMI-4a on human acute myeloid leukemia cell line U937.METHODS:The effect of SMI-4a on U937 cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay.The apoptotic rate was assessed by flow cytometry with Annexin V-PI staining and by fluorescence microscopy with Hoechst 33342 staining.Methylcellulose was used to assess colony formation ability of the cells.The expression of β-catenin in the cell cytosol and nucleus was detected by Western blot,and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in the U937 cells was also examined.Intracellular distribution of β-catenin was detected by the method of immunofluorescence.RESULTS:SMI-4a inhibited the viability of U937 cells.Annexin V-PI staining showed that SMI-4a induced apoptosis in dose-and time-dependent manners.Hoechst 33342 staining also verified the apoptosis.SMI-4a significantly inhibited the colony formation capacity of the U937 cells.The results of Western blot demonstrated that SMI-4a upregulated the expression of PARP and Bax,downregulated the expression of Bcl-2 and change the distribution of β-catenin in intracellular compartment.Immunofluorescence observation found that SMI-4a decreased the expression level of β-catenin in the U937 cells.CONCLUSION:SMI-4a induces U937 cell apoptosis through regulating the expression of apoptosis-related genes.

Alkaloids, widespread in plants, have a series of pharmacological activities and have been widely used to treat various diseases. Because alkaloids are usually presented in multicomponent mixtures and are deeply low in content, they are very difficult to extract and separate by traditional methods. High-speed counter current chromatography(HSCCC) is a kind of liquid-liquid chromatography without solid support phase, which has the advantages of large injection volume, low cost, and no irreversible adsorption. Compared with the traditional methods of extraction and separation of alkaloids, HSCCC can ensure the separation of many different alkaloids at one time, with a high recovery and large amount. In this paper, the advantages and disadvantages of HSCCC compared with traditional separation methods were discussed and the solvent system and elution mode of HSCCC used to separate alkaloids in recent years were summarized by referring to the relevant literature to provide some references for the separation of alkaloids by HSCCC.
Biological Products ; Countercurrent Distribution/methods* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Alkaloids/analysis* ; Solvents/chemistry*

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of promoting male circumcision among the general population in the high HIV prevalence areas of Guangxi Province.

METHODSWe interviewed 590 male residents from Hezhou and Qinzhou areas of Guangxi Province and conducted intervention using male circumcision promotion materials and various methods. If the subjects were willing and had no contraindication, they were referred to the appointed hospitals to receive circumcision. We conducted follow-up visits at 6 and 9 months after intervention for the changes in the subjects' knowledge, attitude and practice related to male circumcision.

RESULTSThe male circumcision knowledge, willingness and operation rate were significantly improved after intervention (P < 0.05), but with no significant difference between the two follow-up visits (P > 0.05). The number of those who knew that phimosis and redundant prepuce were the reasons for circumcision increased from 66.1% at baseline to 81.9% and 79.8% at the two follow-up visits; those who knew that circumcision could prevent AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases increased from 28.0% to 77.4% and 78.6%; those who knew that surgical complications could be pain, bleeding and infection increased from 29.5%, 19.3% and 39.3% to 72.5%, 58.2% and 59.4% at the first follow-up and 75.0%, 57.0% and 63.0% at the second; those who were willing to receive circumcision increased from 35.3% at baseline to 59.6% and 61.3% at the two follow-up visits; and the rate of surgery increased from zero to 12.7% and 16.1%.

CONCLUSIONThe promotion of male circumcision among the general population in the high HIV prevalence areas of Guangxi Province significantly improved their knowledge, attitude and practice related to AIDS prevention. And the promotion activities should focus on the publicity of AIDS knowledge, risks of phimosis and redundant prepuce, and safety of circumcision.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; prevention & control ; Adult ; China ; Circumcision, Male ; psychology ; Health Education ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phimosis ; surgery ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Betacoronavirus ; Biomedical Research ; COVID-19 ; Coronavirus Infections/mortality* ; Global Health ; Humans ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral/mortality* ; SARS-CoV-2

PURPOSE: We aim to examine nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) characteristics and survival outcomes in patients aged 70 years and older in the intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) era. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2006 to 2013, 126 non-metastatic NPC patients aged ≥ 70 years who were treated with IMRT +/‒ chemotherapy were included. Adult Comorbidity Evaluation 27 (ACE-27) was used to measure patient comorbidities. The overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS)were calculatedwith the Kaplan-Meier method, and differenceswere compared using the log-rank test. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to carry out multivariate analyses. RESULTS: For the entire group, only two patients (1.6%) presented stage I disease, and up to 84.1% patients had stage III-IVB disease. All patients had a comorbidity score of 0 in 24 (19.0%), 1 in 45 (35.7%), 2 in 42 (33.3%), and 3 in 15 (11.9%) patients. The main acute grade during radiotherapy was 3-4 adverse events consisting of mucositis (25.4%), bone marrow suppression (16.7%), and dermatitis (8.7%). After treatment, four patients (3.2%) developed temporal lobe injury. Five-year CSS and OS rates were 67.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 58.6% to 77.4%) and 54.0% (95% CI, 45.6% to 63.9%), respectively. Five-year OS was significantly higher for ACE-27 score 0-1 than ACE-27 score 2-3 (72.9% and 39.9%, respectively; p < 0.001). Multivariate analyses showed ACE-27 score 0-1 was significantly associated with superior OS (hazard ratio [HR], 3.02; 95% CI, 1.64 to 5.55; p < 0.001). In addition, the rate of OS was higher for stage I-III than that of stage IV, with borderline significance (HR, 1.67; 95% CI, 0.99 to 2.82; p=0.053). But no significant advantage was observed in OS when chemotherapy was used (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest IMRT +/– chemotherapy has a manageable toxicity and provides an acceptable survival in patients aged ≥ 70 years with NPC. ACE-27 score was significantly associated with survival outcomes in this group population.
Adult ; Bone Marrow ; Comorbidity ; Dermatitis ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Methods ; Mucositis ; Multivariate Analysis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Radiotherapy ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated* ; Temporal Lobe