OBJECTIVETo observe the impacts of acupoint catgut embedding therapy and acupuncture-moxibustion therapy on the long-term efficacy and patient's life quality in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.

METHODSSixty-nine patients were randomized into the combined acupuncture-moxibustion and acupoint catgut embedding therapy group (combined therapy group, 36 cases) and an acupuncture-moxibustion group (33 cases). In the acupuncture-moxibustion group, acupuncture was applied at Yingxiang (LI 20), Shangyingxiang (EX-HN 8), Yintang (GV 29), Shangxing (GV 23), Tongtian (BL 7) and Zusanli (ST 36). Moxibustion was applied at Zusanli (ST 36), Feishu (BL 13), Dazhui (GV 14) and Fengmen (BL 12). In the combined therapy group, on the basis of the treatment as acupuncture-moxibustion group, the catgut embedding therapy was applied at Feishu (BL 13), Fengmen (BL 12), Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23), Zhongwan (CV 12) and Qihai (CV 6). The treatment duration was 4 weeks in the two groups. The clinical efficacy of allergic rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) score were observed before and after treatment as well as in the 4-weeks follow-up after the end of treatment respectively.

RESULTSThe markedly effective rate was 72.7% (24/33) in the combined therapy group and 48.4% (15/31) in the acupuncture-moxibustion group after treatment. The efficacy was similar between the two groups (P > 0.05). It was 57.6% (19/33) in the combined therapy group and was 22. 6% (7/31) in the 4-week follow-up after treatment, indicating the long-term efficacy in the combined therapy group was superior to that in the acupuncture-moxibustion group (P<0. 05). Scores of RQLO after treatment and in 4-week follow-up after treatment in both groups were improved as compared with those before treatment (all P < 0.05). In 4-week follow-up, the improvements in sleep and affection in the combined therapy group were superior to the acupuncture-moxibustion group (3.27 +/- 3.23 vs 4.61 +/- 3.56, 3.48 +/- 3.67 vs 5.81 +/- 4.15, both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe acupoint catgut embedding therapy combined with acupuncture-moxibustion therapy are safe and effective in the treatment of allergic rhinitis and display the more roles in the long-term efficacy.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Catgut ; utilization ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Quality of Life ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

The recombinaut porcine insulin precursor(PIP)produced by Pichia pastoris in shake-flask and 501.fermenter was investigated respectively.The results indicated that 60h induction time length and 2.0%～2.5% methanol addition every day was optimum in shake- flask.The process in 50L fermenter was consisted of batch,feed-batch and induction phases.The relationship between dry cell weight(y) and culture time (t) in growth phase(batch and feed-batch phase)could be described by model y=0.6525e~(0.1907t).Glycerol and ammonia were almost used for cell growth and maintain,and no by-product was observed in batch and fed-batch phase Only 80% ammonia and 70% methanol were used by cell in induction phase.By comparison the results of shake-flask and 50L fermenter,it was concluded that the limit- ing factor in the fermentation of shake-flask and 50L fermenter was dissolved oxygen(DO)and.carbon source,respectively.When scaling the result of shake-flask to 501.fermenter,the control strategy was adapted for 50L fermenter by increasing the feed rate of methanol and the maximum PIP concentration reached 1.72 g/L.

Immobilized penicillin acylase was used for bioconversion of penicillin G into 6-APA in aqueous two-phase systems consisted of a light-sensitive polymer PNBC and a pH-sensitive polymer PADB.Partition coefficients of 6-APA was found to be:about 5.78,in the presence of 1% NaCl.Enzyme kinetic showed that reaction reached equilibrium at 7h or so.The 6-APA mole yields were 85.3%(pH 7.8,and 20 ℃) and this value was about 20%higher than control in reaction of single aqueous phase buffer.Partition coefficient of penicillin G(Na) washardly changeable,while partition coefficient of product,6-APA and phenylacetate acid was significantly changeable.Reason is due to Donnan effect of phase systems andhydrophobicity of products.The change of partition coefficients of products also affects bioconversion yield of products.In the aqueous two-phase systems,substrate,penicillin G,products 6-APA and phenylacetate acid are biased in top phase,while immobilized penicillin acylase is completely partitioned in bottom.Substrate,penicillin G enters into bottom phase,and it is catalyzed into 6-APA and phenylacetate acid,then the products enter into top phase.Finally,inhibition of substrate and products is removed to result in improvement of products yield.Moreover,immobilized enzymehashigher efficiency than immobilized cells and occupy smaller volume.Comparing with free enzyme,immobilized enzymehashigher stability,longer use life,completely partitioned in bottom phase and recycle.Bioconversion in two-phase systems using immobilized penicillin acylase showed outstanding advantage.The light-sensitive copolymer forming aqueous two-phase systems could be recovered by laser radiation at 488 nm or filtrated 450 nm light,while pH-sensitive polymer PADB could be recovered by isoelectric point(pH 4.1).The recovery of the two copolymers was 95%~99%.

ObjectiveTo explore the reliability and validity of WHO ICF-Clinical Checklist for patients with spinal cord injuries.MethodsClinical testing, case records and check had been implemented for 50 patients with spinal cord injuries with ICF-Clinical Checklist, ADL and ASIA.Results and ConclusionThere were high test-retest reliability and validity in WHO ICF-Checklist for patients with spinal cord injuries.

Optimization of the fermentation condition for human apolipoproteinA-I expression in recombinant Escherichia coli was investigated. The recombinant plasmid pBV220-ApoA-I was transformed respectively into different E.coli hosts such as JM109, BL21(DE3),DH5?, BMH7118,and TG1. The best host E.coli was DH5? in which the recombinant ApoA-I expression percentage was 21.2% corresponding to that in BL21(DE3) in flask shaker cultivation,while the ApoA-I expressed percentage in E.coli TG1 was 11%.Fed-batch cultivation was performed in FMG-5L fermentor,the optimum fermentation cultivation conditions were as following :optimum pH value was 7.0 in growth phase and 7.4 in the expression phase. The initial glucose concentration in batch phase was 3 g?L -1.The optimum C/N ratio was 2∶1.The recombinant ApoA-I reached about 40% of the total protein, and concentration of ApoA-I was 2.86 g?L -1.

The temperature effect on the recombinant protein production formation was investigated in present study. The culture temperature of growth phase is 30℃, and the culture temperature of induction phase was arranged according to three modes. Hign cell-density and high expression culture of E.coli to product recombinant human apolipoprotein A-I Milano by two temperature-shifted induction . Two temperature-shifted induction was carried out high density and high expression recombinant human ApoA-1 Milano. The recombinant protein ApoA-I Milano reached 4.8 g?L -1 with the final cell density of OD 600 150. And the two temperature-shifted induction avoided the acetic acid successfully to the influence of the high density and high expression. Two temperature-shifted induction was viable in high density culture and high expression of heterogenous protein in recombination E.coli.The sduty provides a basic work for production of recombinant ApoA-I Milano in scale.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and adverse effects of gefitinib in the treatment of fe- male patients with advanced adenocarcinoma of lung who had failed to previous chemotherapy.Methods These patients received 250mg of gefitinib orally,once daily until disease progression or development of intol- erable toxic reaction.They were evaluated one month after treatment and every other month thereafter.Results Among the 27 evaluable patients,there were 1 CR(3.7%),11 PR(40.8%),10 SD(37.0%)and 5 PD(18.5%). The overall response rate was 44.5%(95% CI 29%～68%);and 22 patients(81.5%)gained profit(CR+PR+ SD)from the clinical therapy(95% CI 62%～94%);the mean TTP was 7.2 months.Symptomatic improvement rate was 80.0%.The main adverse effects were mild rash and diarrhea.Conclusion gefitinib has significant efficacy in the treatment of female patients with advanced tung cancer who had failed to previous chemother- apy.Adverse effects are mild.gefitinib is a suitable therapy for these patients.

Redox electrode was used to control redox potential at four different levels (-50 mV, -100 mV, -150 mV, - 230mV) for the study of ethanol fermentation. The result showed that there was notably influence on the yield of ethanol, the formation of glycerol, the secretion of organic acid, biomass and the death of cell by controlling redox potential at different levels. For example: the biomass of ORP at -50 mV was 1.26, 1.86, 2.59 times higher than ORP at -100 mV, -150 mV, -230 mV respectively, the final glycerol concentration was 1.2, 1.1, 1.7 times higher but final ethanol concentration was 0.87, 0.49, 0.51 times lower compared to the latest three ORP control level. And take biomass, ethanol yield, glycerol concentration, and unconsumed glucose into consider, we get the conclusion that it is very favorable for ethanol fermentation by control ORP at 150 mV. So it give us a apocalypse that we can use redox electrode to control the ethanol fermentation exactly on bioreactor scale.
Electrodes ; Ethanol ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Industrial Microbiology ; methods ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; growth & development ; metabolism

Taking the typical metabolic control product-guanosine as an example, the method of metabolic flux shift investigation based on process multi-levels parameter correlation analysis was established. The metabolic pathway, multi-parameter correlation, accumulation of amino acid and organic acid during guanosine fermentation process were integratively analyzed. The metabolic flux shift from HMP to EMP was ascertained, which was assumed to be caused by the accumulation of ammonium ion. The subsequent optimization based on controlling flux distribution between EMP and HMP did improve the yield by 35% when the metabolic flux shift was prevented.
Amino Acids ; metabolism ; Ammonia ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Guanosine ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study on the dynamics of peripheral blood lymphocytes and their subpopulations in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome.

METHODSUsing flow cytometry, the absolute numbers of peripheral blood lymphocytes and their subpopulations in 240 SARS patients (696 specimens) and 51 individuals as controls, were counted and compared.

RESULTSThe absolute numbers of peripheral blood lymphocytes and their subpopulations (CD45, CD3, CD4, CD8) were 1298 +/- 785, 897 +/- 606, 510 +/- 372, 362 +/- 263/mm(3), respectively, significantly lower in SARS patients as compared to the normal controls (2024 +/- 423, 1391 +/- 289, 795 +/- 129, 551 +/- 183/mm(3)). Of SARS patients, severe group (1095 +/- 740, 740 +/- 562, 419 +/- 346, 304 +/- 244/mm(3)) had lower counts than that of mild group (1404 +/- 788, 991 +/- 612, 564 +/- 378, 396 +/- 267/mm(3)), and in group with deaths (587 +/- 493, 369 +/- 371, 204 +/- 191, 150 +/- 130/mm(3)) was lower than that of recovery group (1355 +/- 776, 948 +/- 603, 539 +/- 375, 382 +/- 263/mm(3)). There were significant differences (P < 0.01) for CD45, CD3, CD4, CD8, but with no significant difference (P > 0.05) for CD4/CD8 ratio between severe and mild, recovery and death groups. The lymphocytes and their subpopulations (CD45, CD3, CD4, CD8) declined in the 1st week and to the lowest level (977 +/- 579, 641 +/- 466, 360 +/- 275, 270 +/- 216/mm(3)) in the 2nd week. Then the lymphocytes and their subpopulations gradually increased during the recovery of the disease.

CONCLUSIONThe absolute numbers of peripheral blood lymphocytes and their subpopulations in SARS patients might be used as one of the methods for diagnosis on the severity and prognosis of the disease.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, CD ; blood ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; classification ; immunology ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; blood ; Time Factors