OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacy in the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR) of lung qi deficiency and cold syndrome between Jin's three-needle therapy and western medication.

METHODSSixty-six patients were randomized into an acupuncture group and a western medication group, 33 cases in each one. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied at three-nose points [Yingxiang (LI 20), Shangyingxiang (EX-HN 8) and Yintang (GV 29); Cuanzhu (BL 2) was added for frontal headache] and three-back points [Dazhu (BL 11), Fengmen (BL 12) and Feishu (BL 13)], once every day. Ten treatments made one session. Two sessions of treatment were required. In the western medication group, desloratadine oral suspension was prescribed, 5 mg each time, once a day, for 20 days. The scores of the symptoms and physical signs in AR patients as well as the clinical efficacy were observed between the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 93.9% (31/33) in the acupuncture group, which was better than 72.7% (24/33) in the western medication group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the scores of AR symptoms and physical signs as well as the total score were all reduced compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all P < 0.01). The score of every item in the acupuncture group was lower than that in the western medication group after treatment (score of symptoms: 4.70 +/- 2.07 vs 6.55 +/- 2. 69, score of physical signs: 0.85 +/- 0.67 vs 1.45 +/- +0.62, total score: 5.36 +/- 2.70 vs 8.00 +/- 2.91, all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONJin's three-needle therapy achieves superior efficacy on AR of lung-qi deficiency and cold syndrome, which is better than desloratadine oral suspension.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Needles ; Qi ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Young Adult

As one of the earliest markers for predicting pregnancy outcomes,human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) values have been inconclusive on reliability of the prediction after frozen and fresh embryo transfer (ET).In this retrospective study,patients with positive hCG (day 12 after transfer) were included to examine the hCG levels and their predictive value for pregnancy outcomes following 214 fresh and 1513 vitrified-warmed single-blastocyst transfer cycles.For patients who got clinical pregnancy,the mean initial hCG value was significantly higher after frozen cycles than fresh cycles,and the similar result was demonstrated for patients with live births (LB).The difference in hCG value existed even after adjusting for the potential covariates.The area under curves (AUC) and threshold values calculated by receiver operator characteristic curves were 0.944 and 213.05 mIU/mL for clinical pregnancy after fresh ET,0.894 and 399.50 mIU/mL for clinical pregnancy after frozen ET,0.812 and 222.86 mIU/mL for LB after fresh ET,and 0.808 and 410.80 mIU/mL for LB after frozen ET with acceptable sensitivity and specificity,respectively.In conclusion,single frozen blastocyst transfer leads to higher initial hCG values than single fresh blastocyst transfer,and the initial hCG level is a reliable predictive factor for predicting IVF outcomes.

OBJECTIVETo establish the Chinese Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) norms in Chongqing, China.

METHODSPEDI (English version) was translated into Chinese and proof read by back-translation. A total of 1 140 children stratified by age were randomly selected from Chongqing and evaluated by the Chinese version of the PEDI. The obtained data were statistically analyzed.

RESULTSOf 1 140 questionnaires, 1 075 (94.3%) were valid. The data showed that the raw and scale scores of PEDI increased with age, but the standard scores did not increase with age. The raw, scale, and standard scores on self-care and social function scales were significantly lower than American PEDI norms in some age periods (P<0.05), but the raw, scale, and standard scores on mobility scale were not significantly different from American norms (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe PEDI norms in Chongqing have been successfully established, and can be used to assess the daily function in children, judge the degree of daily function impairment, evaluate the effect of rehabilitation training, and make the rehabilitation plan for disabled children.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Disability Evaluation ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Pediatrics

OBJECTIVETo understand the infectivity and pathogenicity of the plasma of hepatitis E virus (HEV) viremia to primate animals.

METHODSRNA fragment of HEV genotype IV was detected on one healthy donor who was positive for anti-HEV IgM and negative for anti-HEV IgG. Then 10 ml plasma from above donor was transfused to rhesus monkey to observe its infectivity and pathogenicity.

RESULTSAcute hepatitis E was developed in rhesus monkey who accept HEV RNA positive plasma. It was confirmed by virological, immunological, biochemical and histopathological data.

CONCLUSIONAcute hepatitis E can be induced by plasma transfusion of HEV viremia, which indicate the possibility of transfusion transmitted hepatitis E

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Blood Donors ; Hepatitis E ; transmission ; Hepatitis E virus ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Macaca mulatta ; RNA, Viral ; blood ; Transfusion Reaction

OBJECTIVETo analyze the differences of risk factors on congenital heart defect (CHD)between floating population and permanent residents in Guangdong.

METHODSA multicenter case-control study was carried out to investigate the risk factors of CHD in floating population and in permanent residents. Data was from 34 Guangdong CHD Monitoring Network centers during the year of 2004 to 2011. Exposed information related to the parents at pre-pregnancy and early pregnancy periods, was collected, using the same questionnaire survey methodology in the two populations. Possible risk factors were analyzed by univariate analysis and multivariate non-conditional logistic regression(ENTER method)methods. Risk factors were compared between the two populations.

RESULTSTotally, 855 CHD cases and their controls from the floating population, as well as 1673 cases and their controls from the permanent residents were included in this study. Age of the children under study was defined from 28th week of gestation to 1 year old postnatal. In the floating population, specific risk factor for CHD appeared as:maternal passive smoking in early pregnancy, while the specific protective factor as high family income. However, the specific risk factors would include: having diseases as maternal diabetes mellitus or syphilis, living in a newly (within half a year) decorated house or with fetal macrosomia in the permanent residents. High education level showed as a risk factor in floating population, however contrarily, as protective factor to the permanent residents. Except for the factors related to having fever of the mother and infant with low birth weight, factors as having history of deliveries more than two, with maternal virus infection, exposure to chemical agent and negative bearing history etc., have higher OR values in floating population than in the permanent residents.

CONCLUSIONSignificant differences of risk factors for CHD were noticed between floating population and the permanent residents, which have their individual specific risk factors. Most of the ORs appeared higher in floating population than in the permanent residents.

Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Transients and Migrants

OBJECTIVETo summarize prevalence rate and region distribution of congenital heart disease (CHD) in 12-month-old and younger infants among four regions of Guangdong province, China.

METHODSData from Guangdong CHD monitoring network including 34 monitoring units covering different geographic regions were analyzed. Professional training on screening and diagnosing CHD was provided to each work group member to improve the diagnosis level. CHD infants under or aged 12 months detected in the monitoring unit were included. CHD was diagnosed by fetus and infants echocardiography.

RESULTSFrom July 2004 to December 2010, 383 281 perinatal were registered and 3263 cases of CHD were detected in the 34 member units of Guangdong CHD monitoring network [total prevalence rate of CHD: 0.851% (3263/383 281), male prevalence rate: 0.868% (1799/207 347), female prevalence rate:0.828% (1456/175 843)].Stillbirth CHD prevalence rate was significantly higher than livebirth CHD prevalence rate [10.627% (676/6361) vs. 0.686% (2587/376 920), P < 0.01]. The total prevalence of CHD was significantly higher in Pearl River Delta region [0.906% (2826/311 823)] than in other regions [0.611% (437/71 458), P < 0.01]. Ventricular septal defect [39.93% (1033/2587) in livebirth] was the most dominant CHD, followed by patent ductus arteriosus [29.84% (772/2587)] and secundum atrial septal defect [13.76% (356/2587)].

CONCLUSIONSThe present data indicate that the prevalence of CHD in Guangdong is at the medium-upper level of the country associated with high stillbirth rate. The dominant type of CHD is ventricular septal defect. CHD prevalence is higher in the Pearl River Delta region than in other regions.

China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between G2139A,G3091A, T663A, and T3593C single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which are located at the promoter region,13th exon, and 2nd intron of epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) gene, and their haplotypes with essential hypertension (EH) in Kazakhs in Xinjiang.

METHODSA case-control study was conducted including 252 EH patients (EH group) and 254 normotensive subjects (NT group) among Kazakhs in Xinjiang. The four genetic polymorphisms were identified by polymerase chain reaction - restriction fragment length polymorphism. The distribution of the genotypes and alleles in all subjects and the different frequency of these four SNPs between EH group and NT group were analyzed. The linkage disequilibrium and haplotypes of these four SNPs were analyzed.

RESULTSThese four SNPs of alpha ENaC gene existed in Xinjiang Kazakhs. In all subjects, the distribution frequencies of genotypes AA, AG, and GG at G2139A were 26.2%, 52.3%, and 21.5%, respectively, and those of alleles (A, G) were 52.37% and 47.63%. The distribution frequencies of genotypes AA, AG, and GG at G3091A were 19.0%, 52.5%, and 28.5%, respectively, and those of and alleles (A, G) were 45.56% and 59.44%. The distribution frequencies of genotypes AA, AG, and GG at T663A were 15.6%, 49.9%, and 34.5%, respectively, and those of alleles (A, G) were 40.53% and 59.47%. The distribution frequencies of genotypes TT, TC, and CC at T3593C were 88.5%, 10.5%, and 1.0%, respectively, and those of alleles (T, C) were 93.77% and 6.23%. The distribution of genotypes at these four SNPs were all consistent with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in this population (P0.05). The distribution frequencies of genotypes and alleles about these four genetic polymorphisms were not significantly different between the EH group and NT group (P0.05). However, the frequencies of two haplotypes were found to be significantly different between these two groups (P0.05). The haplotype frequency which included 2139G, 3091A, 663G, and 3593T alleles was significantly increased in EH group (P0.01), while the haplotype frequency which included 2139A, 3091A, 663A, and 3593C alleles was significantly increased in NT group (P0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe haplotypes that are composed of G2139A, G3091A, T663A, and T3593C polymorphisms of alphaENaC gene may play an important role in the development of EH among Kazakhs in Xinjiang. The haplotypes that are composed of 2139G, 3091A, 663G, and 3593T alleles may aggravate the development of EH. The haplotypes that composed of 2139A, 3091A, 663A, and 3593C alleles may decrease the risk of EH among Kazakhs.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Epithelial Sodium Channels ; genetics ; Exons ; genetics ; Humans ; Hypertension ; genetics ; Introns ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo establish the determination method for complanatoside A in seeds of Astragalus complanatus.

METHODAn HPLC method has been developed to separate complanatoside A on ZORBAX EXTEND-C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) column with acetonitrile-water-phosphoric acid (20:80:0.2) as mobile phase and UV detection at 267 nm.

RESULTThe good linearity of complanatoside A ranged 0.086-0.430 microg, r = 0.9999. An average recovery of 99.8% (n = 5) was obtained with a RSD of 1.0%.

CONCLUSIONThe established method is proved to be stability, fast, accurate and can be used for quantification of Complanatoside A in Semen Astragali Complanati.

Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Flavonols ; analysis ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Seeds ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of T-bet mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) as well as its relations with total IgE (TIgE), eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in serum and nasal allergic symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR).

METHODSThe allergen, TIgE and ECP in serum of patients with AR were detected by Unicap CAP system. Blood sample was taken from 8 healthy individuals and 22 patients with allergic rhinitis. PBMC was isolated by density gradient centrifugation and one part of them was cultured with 50 microg/ml mite allergen. PBMC was subjected to analysis of T-bet mRNA expression using semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSThe ratio of T-bet to beta-actin mRNA levels was 0.381 +/- 0.099 in patients and 0.750 +/- 0.067 in normal individuals, the difference was significantly (P <0.01). The expression intensity of T-bet mRNA had no relation to varying severity of allergic symptoms and concentration of ECP and the correlation coefficient was 0.187 and -0.165 (all P > 0.05). However, there was an inverse correlation between expression intensity of T-bet mRNA and TIgE concentration (r = -0.525, P < 0.05). Mean mRNA level (x +/- s) of T-bet expression before and after being stimulated by allergen was 0.381 +/- 0.099 and 0.365 +/- 0.104 respectively, which indicated no significant differences (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAmong allergic patients whose allergen was mite, there was a down-regulated expression of T-bet mRNA, which had no relation to ECP concentration and allergic symptoms, but was one of important links in mechanisms of imbalance of Th1/Th2 in AR. There was no effect of specific allergen on T-bet mRNA in patients with AR T-bet was one of indirect factors that affected the level of IgE.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Male ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; blood ; T-Box Domain Proteins ; blood ; Young Adult

Objective To study the effect of ulinastatin on no reflow or slow flow in the infarct related artery in patient with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing emergency percutaneous coronary interventional therapy (PCI).Methods 180 STEMI patients were divided into the control group (n=100) and the ulinastatin treatment group (n=80).The control group received conventional PCI treatment and the treatment group received conventional PCI treatment plus ulinastatin. The level of serum inflammatory factors IL-6,IL-10,superoxide converting enzyme,the infarct related coronary artery reperfusion TIMI flow grade (TFG) and myocardial perfusion grade (TMPG),the results of postoperative cardiac ultrasound examination and clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups.Results Compared with the control group,the level of IL-6 was decreased,while the levels of IL-10 and superoxide converting enzyme were increased significantly in the ulinastatin treatment group(P<0.05).The TFG and TMPG of the infarct related vessels were increased significantly in the ulinastatin treatment group. The left ventricular end diastolic diameter[(54.6 ± 5.2 mm vs. (50.4±4.6) mm,P=0.046)]and left ventricular ejection fraction [(58.4±10.2) % vs. (62.2±9.8) % P=0.048] showed statistical difference between the two groups.Compared to the control,the major cardiovascular event rate of the treatment group during hospitalization (1% vs. 5%, P=0.038), after one month (1.2% vs. 3%,P=0.046) and 6 months (3% vs 12%,P=0.018) were all significantly lower .There was no significant difference in mortality between the 2 groups.Conclusion Ulinastatin may lower the incidence of no flow and slow flow after emergency PCI,improve heart function and the lower the rates of MACE.