OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy difference in treatment of borderline hypertension between acupuncture combined with anti-hypertensive plaster and simple acupuncture.

METHODSSixty patients of borderline hypertension were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. In the observation group, acupuncture was applied to Fengchi (GB 20), Taichong (LR 3) and the others, once a day, 5 treatments made one session. There were 2 days at interval among the sessions. Totally, 4 sessions were required. Additionally, in combination, the anti-hypertensive plaster was prepared with the fine powder of Chuanxiong (ligusticum wallichii) and Wuzhuyu (fructus evodiae) at 1.1 and mixed with vinegar. The plaster was applied to the umbilicus, once every two days, totally 15 times were required. In the control group, acupuncture was given simply. The selected acupoints and operation were the same as the observation group. Before and after treatment, blood pressure and syndrome score were observed and the short-term and long-term efficacies were assessed in the two groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the systolic pressure and diastolic pressure were reduced as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all P<0.001), and the differences were significant in comparison between the observation group and the control group (P<0.01, P<0.05). The syndrome score after treatment was reduced as compared with that before treatment in the two groups (both P<0.001) and the difference was not significant in comparison between the two groups (P>0.05). In follow-up of the effective cases and remarkably effective cases in 3 months, the total effective rate in the observation group was 89.3% (25/28) and was 60.0% (15/25) in the control group, indicating the significant difference in comparison (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture combined with anti-hypertensive plaster is the effective method in prevention and treatment of borderline hypertension. Regarding the long-term efficacy, this combined therapy achieves the superior improvement in the symptoms and physical signs of the patients of borderline hypertension as compared with simple acupuncture.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Administration, Cutaneous ; Adult ; Aged ; Antihypertensive Agents ; administration & dosage ; Blood Pressure ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Adolescent ; Age Factors ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular ; etiology ; pathology

Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic ; Humans

Objective To investigate the expression of interleukin-18(IL-18) and signal transducers and activators of transcription 5(STAT5)in retina of 4-24-week-old diabetic rats, and explore the potential molecular mechanisms involved in diabetic retinopathy (DR). Methods Retinal gene expression profile of healthy and 8-week-old diabetic rats was established with restriction fragment differential display-polymerase chained reaction (RFDD-PCR), and the differences was analyzed by bioinformatics. IL-18 and STAT5 were filtrated as the candidate genes of DR. The expression of IL-18 and STAT5 in retina of diabetic rats with the age of 4, 8, and 24 weeks was observed by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). Results The result of RFDD-PCR showed:expression of IL-18 was higher in healthy retina than that in diabetic one; expression of STAT5 was not found in healthy rats but in diabetic ones. The result of RT-PCR showed:compared with the normal, high expression of IL-18 was found in 4-week diabetic retina, reduced in 8-week one, and decreased to the lowest in 24-week one. The expression of STAT5 was not observed in healthy or 4-week diabetic retina, but occurred in 8-week one, and increased in 24-week one. Conclusion The expression of IL-18 and the activation of STAT5 may relate to the occurrance of DR. The expression of IL-18 doesn′t depend on the activation of STAT5.

Child, Preschool ; Hearing Disorders ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Infant

Objective To study immunologic mechanism of tiger's urine on patients of rheumatoid arthritis. Method We used ELISA method to detect TNF values of serum; we also used MTT colorimetric method to detect the inhibition of tiger's urine on T－ cell. Result TNF values of RA patient's serums at both active stage and stationary phase before the therapy were higher than those of healthy group; TNF values of patient's serums after the therapy were lower than those before the therapy; tiger's urine had obvious inhibitive action on proliferation of peripheral blood's T－ cell. Conclusion Tiger's urine could inhibit T－ cell's proliferation and TNF's secretion, which may be the important mechanism of curing RA.

Aristolochic Acids ; adverse effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Kidney Tubular Necrosis, Acute ; chemically induced ; prevention & control

Objective To explore the changes of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) after repeated febrile seizures (FS).Methods Fifty-one male SD rats were divided into 3 groups randomly: normal group (NC group,n=14) ,hyperthermic group (HC group,n=19),FS group(n=18). FS were induced by hot water bath.The level of BDNF in hippocampus homogenate were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the expression of BDNF were measured by immunohistochemistry.The apoptosis of the brain cells were determined by terminal deoxynucleotide mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL).The results were analysed with the software of SPSS 13.0.Results The level of BDNF in hippocampus in FS group(89.90?12.51) ng/g was significantly higher than that in NC group(54.43?18.92) ng/g and HC group(64.09?15.03) ng/g (Pa

Objective To observe the expressions of nuclear factor-?B(NF-?B)in brain tissue of rats with repeated febrile seizures(FS)and explore its significance in brain injury of rats with FS.Methods Fifty-one male SD rats were divided into 3 groups according to random number method:normal group(n=14),hyperthermic group(n=19),FS group(n=18).FS models were induced by placing rats in warm bath;the rats without FS after warm-bath were assigned as hyperthermic group ;the normal controls received no treatment.The expression of NF-?B was measured by immunohistochemistry.The apoptosis of brain tissue was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL).SPSS 13.0 software was applied for statistical treatment.Results In FS group,the number of the NF-?B positive neuron increased much more than that of hyperthermic group and normal group(Pa

Objective To explore the change of somatostatin(SS)in brain areas of juvenil rats with repeated febrile seizures(FSs)and hyparthermia.Methods Fifty-one male SD rats were divided randomly into 3 groups:normal group(NC group,n=14),hyperthermic group(HC group,n=19)and febrile seizure group(FS group,n=18).FS were induced by placing rats in a bath of water.The expressions of SS in DG,CA3,CA1 and CTL were measured by immunohistochemistry.The level of SS in hippocamps of these rats were determined by radioimmunoassay.Results The results of immunohistochemistry shew in HC group,the number of the SS positive neuron were increased in DG(21.10?2.51),CA3(10.60?2.41)in FS group,which was less than that in NC group(10.50?2.12,6.90?2.02),there was no difference in CA1 and CTL.The result of Radioimmunoassay:the level of SS in hippocampus in HC group[(53.74?7.56)ng/g]was higher than that in FS group[(39.54?7.74)ng/g](P0.05).Conclusion There is different change of somatostatin content in some brain areas of rats with repeated febrile seizure,which suggest that SS can increase the affectivity of seizure and promote the seizure.