OBJECTIVETo observe the difference in the therapeutic effects on knee osteoarthritis (KOA) among auricular electroacupuncture therapy plus isolated moxibustion with Lingxian herbal paste (combined therapy), electroacupuncture (EA) and TDP irradiation.

METHODSEighty-nine cases were randomized into three groups. In the combined therapy group (30 cases), the auricular electroacupuncture therapy was adopted together with the isolated moxibustion with Lingxian herbal paste. The auricular points were xi (AH4), pizhixia (AT4), shenmen (TF4), etc. The Lingxian herbal paste was applied at Yanglingquan (GB 34), Dubi (ST 35), Zusanli (ST 36), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Heding (EX-LE 2) and Ashi points. In EA group (29 cases), EA was applied at the acupoints that were same as those in the isolated moxibustion with Lingxian herbal paste. In TDP group (30 cases), TDP irradiation was given at the affected knee. The treatment was given once every day, 10 treatments made one session and there was 1 week at the interval among sessions. Totally, 3 sessions of treatment were required. KOA clinical symptom and physical sign score and the single item pain symptom score of Lequesne index were observed before treatment and 1 week after treatment in the patients of each group separately. The efficacies were compared among the three groups.

RESULTSOne week after treatment, the total score of symptoms and physical signs of the patients in each group was reduced significantly as compared with that before treatment (all P < 0.05). The improvements in the symptoms and physical signs in the combined therapy group were better than those in the other two groups (1.50 +/- 1.57 vs 2.52 +/- 1.82, 2.63 +/- 1.97, both P < 0.05). The improvement in pain in the combined therapy group was also better than that in the other two groups (2.37 +/- 0.81 vs 2.83 +/- 0.92, P < 0.05; 2.37 +/- 0.81 vs 3.03 +/- 0.77, P < 0.01). The curative rate in the combined therapy group was 40.0% (12/30), which was higher than 17.2% (5/29) in EA group and 20.0% (6/30) in TDP group separately (both P < 0.01). The overall efficacy in the combined therapy group was superior to the other two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe auricular electroacupuncture therapy plus isolated moxibustion with Lingxian herbal paste is advantageous at the total score of the symptoms and physical signs and the overall efficacy in the patients of KOA as compared with EA at the local acupoints and local TDP irradiation.

Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; drug effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To analyze the clinical, radiological, pathological and microbiological features of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) to improve clinical management.Methods Retrospective analysis of 20 pathologically and/or microbiologically confirmed IPA cases in our hospital from January 2005 to August 2008. Results Group A (with underlying diseases) included 13 patients (underlying malignancy in 9 patients, including 5 cases of hematological malignancy, COPD in 2 patients, pulmonary tuberculosis and bronchiectasis in 1 each). Group B (without underlying disease) included 7 patients (2 patients with a long time of fluffy toy contact, another 1 had exposure to moldy rice, and 3 had exposure to polluted water). All these 20 patients had pulmonary invasion revealed by CT imaging. Multiple changes were identified in 16 patients. Bilateral pulmonary infiltrates and/or consolidation were revealed in 7 patients. Multiple nodules were seen in 9 patients. Four patients had solitary lesions, including isolated nodules in 2 patients and segment consolidation in the other 2 patients. Pulmonary cavity without fluid level was found in 8 patients (40.0%). Eighteen cases received antifungal therapy. The overall efficacy rate was 55.6%. The efficacy rate in group A and B was 45.5% and 5/7 respectively. The average time to symptomatic relief was (12.0±2.8) days. The time to lung lesion improvement on CT was (17.4±2.9) days. The time to significant CT improvement was (34.3±9.9) days. The time to the resolution of active lesion was (56.4±6.2) days.Conclusions IPA may occur in immunocompetent patients without underlying disease. Most IPA patients have bilateral multiple pulmonary nodules and cavities on CT. The time to the resolution of active pulmonary lesions is about 6 weeks.

OBJECTIVETo probe in the possible acting mechanism of Bizhongxiao Decoction (BZXD) for treatment of early active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by way of observing the two-dimensional gel electrophoresis map of proteins in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of healthy persons and RA patients (intervened or un-intervened with BZXD), analyzing the differential proteins and seeking out the RA associated proteins.

METHODSEighteen patients with early active RA were randomized into the BZXD group and the methotrexate (MTX) group, nine in each group, they were treated with BZXD (contained 15 Chinese herbs, as Herba Hedyotis diffusae, Herba Sarcandrae glabrae, Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae, Caulis Trachelosperi, Rhizoma Drynariae, Semen Coicis, etc.) and MTX combined with nimesulide Tablets respectively, three months as a treatment course, and their blood samples were collected for observation. Besides, blood samples from 9 healthy persons were taken as normal controls. PBMCs were isolated from blood using lymphozytes separation medium, and total protein in the cells was extracted through immobilized pH gradient two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. After Coomassie brilliant blue G250 staining, gel-image analysis was performed using PDQuest software. The differentially expressed proteins were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Then partial proteins were validated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSThe 2-DE protein profile of PBMCs from healthy persons and RA patients before and 3 months after treatment were obtained, and 23 differential protein spots were found, 14 from 18 differential protein spots were successfully identified, of which 8 proteins were up-regulated and 6 proteins were down-regulated in RA patients as compared with control. After 3-month treatment, 5 differentially expressed proteins showed more obvious in the BZXD group than in the MTX group. RT-PCR verified that the expression of ApoA-I in all the three groups was consistent with the outcomes of 2-DE.

CONCLUSIONSSome differentially expressed proteins exist in the PBMCs of RA patients, which may play a potential role in the pathogenesis of RA; BZXD may treat RA by way of regulating the expression of some differential proteins in patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; blood ; drug therapy ; Blood Proteins ; analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Male ; Methotrexate ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Proteome ; analysis ; Proteomics ; methods

OBJECTIVETo construct the folic acid deficient model in zebrafish and observe the abnormal cardiac phenotypes, to find the optimal period for supplementing folic acid that can most effectively prevent the heart malformation induced by folic acid deficiency, and to investigate the possible mechanisms by which folic acid deficiency induces malformations of heart.

METHODThe folic acid deficient zebrafish model was constructed by using both the folic acid antagonist methotrexate (MTX) and knocking-down dhfr (dihydrofolate reductase gene). Exogenous tetrahydrofolic acid rescue experiment was performed. Folic acid was given to folic acid deficient groups in different periods. The percent of cardiac malformation, the cardiac phenotypes, the heart rate and the ventricular shortening fraction (VSF) were recorded. The out flow tract (OFT) was observed by using fluorescein micro-angiography. Whole-mount in situ hybridization and real-time PCR were performed to detect vmhc, amhc, tbx5 and nppa expressions.

RESULTAbout (78.00 ± 3.74)% embryos in MTX treated group and (68.00 ± 6.32)% embryos in dhfr knocking-down group had heart malformations, including the abnormal cardiac shapes, the hypogenesis of OFT and the reduced heart rate and VSF. Giving exogenous tetrahydrofolic acid rescued the above abnormalities. Given the folic acid on 8 - 12 hours post-fertilization (hpf), both the MTX treated group (20.20% ± 3.77%) and dhfr knocking-down group (43.40% ± 4.51%) showed the most significantly reduced percent of cardiac malformation and the most obviously improved cardiac development. In folic acid deficient group, the expressions of tbx5 and nppa were reduced while the expressions of vmhc and amhc appeared normal. After being given folic acid to MTX treated group and dhfr knocking-down group, the expressions of tbx5 and nppa were increased.

CONCLUSIONSThe synthesis of tetrahydrofolic acid was decreased in our folic acid deficient model. Giving folic acid in the middle period, which is the early developmental stage, can best prevent the abnormal developments of hearts induced by folic acid deficiency. Folic acid deficiency did not disrupt the differentiations of myosins in ventricle and atrium. The cardiac malformations caused by folic acid deficiency were related with the reduced expressions of tbx5 and nppa.

Animals ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Folic Acid ; metabolism ; Folic Acid Deficiency ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Heart ; drug effects ; embryology ; growth & development ; T-Box Domain Proteins ; metabolism ; Zebrafish ; embryology ; genetics

Objective To analyze the drug resistant characteristics of 84 clinical isolated Helicobacter pylori (Hp) strains, and to observe the inhibitory effects of anti-Hp Lactobacillus acidophilus (La)4 and La6 on different antibiotic-resistant Hp strains. Methods Hp strains were isolated and cultured from gastric mucosa of 84 different gastropathy patients (20 patients with chronic gastritis, 24 with gastric ulcer, 19 with duodenal ulcer and 16 with gastric cancer). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of metronidazole, clarithromycin and amoxicillin were tested by E-test in order to determine the resistance of these three antibiotics in clinical isolated Hp strains. With standard La as control, the supernatant of anti-Hp La4 and La6 was added into Hp strains culture wells. Hp strains were cultured in solid media for 72 hours, and then inhibition ring were recorded. Anti-Hp Lactobacillus acidophilus liquid was also added to culture medium of different Hp strains, which were in liquid culture, culture medium were taken at different time points (4,8,12,24,48 hrs) to calculate bacteria colony number and test urease activity. Results In 84 clinical isolated Hp strains, the resistant rates of metronidazole, clarithromycin and amoxicillin resistance rates were 67.9%, 17.9% and 1.2% respectively. Of those 11 strains were mixed drug resistance, which included 10 strains of metronidazole and clarithromycin mixed drug resistance, and one of metronidazole and amoxicillin mixed drug resistance. In solid culture conditions, supernatant of anti-Hp Lactobacillus acidophilus La4 and La6 had obvious inhibitory effect on antibiotic-resistant and non-resistant Hp strains. In liquid culture conditions, anti-Hp Lactobacillu acidophilus La4 and La6 bacterium liquid could inhibit the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant and non-resistant Hp strains, the antagonistic role was significantly stronger than the standard Lactobacillus acidophilus strains (P<0.05). The urease activity of antibiotic-resistant Hp strains was inhibited since mixed cultured with anti-Hp Lactobacillu acidophilus La4 and La6 for 4 hours, the urease activity gradually decreased as culture time extended, and the inhibitory role was significantly stronger than the standard Lactobacillus acidophilus strains (P<0.05). Conclusions In 84 Hp strains, most were metronidazole resistant strains, followed by clarithromycin resistant strains, metronidazole and clarithromycin mixed resistance strains. In vitro, anti-Hp Lactobacillu acidophilus La4 and La6 had obvious inhibitory effects on antibiotic-resistant and non-resistant Hp strains.

In order to understand the clinical characteristics of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) in real world and provide reference for clinical prevention and treatment, this study analyzed informations of patient with CHD in hospital information system. Data from 17 national hospitals were collected. Select patients with coronaryheart disease in diagnosis of the first place in 17 hospitals, general informations and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome, complications, medicine were analyzed using frequency method and association rules. This study included 84 697 patients with CHD, the majority of men and in the elderly. The average age of patients was 71 years. The proportion of men to women was about 1. 45: 1. Hospital stay time ranged from 8 to 14 d. The most common total hospitalization cost distribution was 5 000-20 000 RMB. Young patients have a rising trend year by year. The death of patients increased with increasing age. Common complications were hypertension, diabetes, cerebral infarction and hyperlipidemia, 57.24 percent of the CHD patient complicated with hypertension, 21.94 percent patients complicated with diabetes. Among TCM syndrome types, Qi-Yin deficiency and qi deficiency blood stasis were the most common syndromes. Blood stasis was the highest syndrome elements, accounted for 79.97%, followed by Qi deficiency, phlegm, Yin deficiency, and so on. The most common western medicine was aspirin, followed with isosorbide dinitrate, clopidogrel. The most common used traditional Chinese medicine was danhong injection, followed by shuxuetong injection. Combined with removing blood stasis drugs has been more common at present clinical treatment, there were 43.46 percent of patients combined with anti-platelet western drug and injection of removing blood stasis.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aspirin ; therapeutic use ; Coronary Disease ; complications ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Isosorbide Dinitrate ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Ticlopidine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use

Objective To study the survival time of recombination rival in environment and inactivation ability of different disinfectant and ultraviolet radiation against virus. Methods NC membranes absorbed the recombinant adenovirus (rADV) or herpes simplex vires (rHSV) with green fluorescence protein (GFP) were laid, or immersed in various concentration of different disinfectants such as ethanol, sodium hypochlorite, lysol and geramine and then taked out them every 15 min, or exposed under ultraviolet radiation, then the NC membranes were adsorbed 1 h in cell, 37 ℃ 5 % CO248 h. The results were observed under the fluorescence microscope. Results (1) the average survival time of rHSV under environment is less than 60 min, rADV is almost up to 2 h. (2) The infection ability of rHSV and rADV was inactived 15 min by both ethanol(100%, 70% and 50%) and sodium hypochlorite (5%, 2.5% and 1.25%). (3) Two virus can be killed by 0.1% bromngeramine. (4) Both 5% and 2.5% lysol, but rADV can not lost the infection on Vero Cell until 75 min by 1.25% Lysol. (5) The rHSV was inactivated under ultraviolet radiation, but rADV was not. Conclusion The survival time of is different from beth envelope rival and the no-envelope viral under nature environment and the inactivate ability of disinfectant also is different between two model virus; Disinfectant should be choose according to virus type.

Objective To understand distribution of the endemic fluorosis areas and running status of water-improving defuoridation projects in Gausu province. Methods In 2006, Gansu province endemic fluorosis areas, the content of fluoride in drinking water was measured in villages where water was not improved, running status of delluoridation projects was investigated and the content of fluoride in drinking water were determined in villages where water was improved. Dental fluorosis and skeletal fluorosis prevalence were examined in children in identified high-fluorlde villages. The fluorine content in drinking water was determined by F-ion selective electrode, dental fluorosis of children was diagnosed using Dean method, and adults skeletal fluorosis was diagnosed according to "National Standard for Clinical Diagnosis of Endemic Skeletal Fhiorosis" (GB 16396-1996). Results Water samples were examined in 1997 villages of 26 countries, among which water fluoride content was higher than 1.0 mg/L in 598 villages, accounting for 29.94%(598/1997). All 1215 water-improving and defluoridation projects had been investigated, among which 94.90%(1153/1215) of the projects were functioning well, and intermittent and abandoned projects accounted for 2.96%(36/1215) and 2.14%(26/1215). Mean fluoride of treated water of 1084 water-improving and defluoridation projects had water fluoride content ≤ 1.0 mg/L, accounted for 90.79%(1084/1194) ; mean fluoride of water from 1068 water-improving and defluoridation projects had water fuoride content ≤ 1.0 mg/L, accounting for 91.75%(1068/1164). Total 86 390 children of 8 to 12 year-old were examined, the detectable rate of dental fluorosis was 22.47%(19 414/86 390) and 142 211 adults above 16 year-old were examined, the detectable rate of skeletal fluorosis was 4.20%(5967/142 211). Conclusions Some villages yet have water fluoride content exceeding the standard. Some projects are abandoned and running badly, leading to fluoride content exceeding the standard. In a few areas, the prevalence of children dental fluorosis and adult skeletal fluorosis still exists in Gansu province, the task of prevention and control for endemic fluorosis is still arduous. We must raise the effect of prevention and treatment of this disease.

Objective To investigate the phenomenon of accidental splashes and sprays from manipulation of recombinant virus material and to measure the approximate spilled distance when recombinant virus material inadveaenfly dropped in the biosafety laboratory.Methods first,two groups owning different experience simulated the course of accidental spills and splashes by recombinant adenovirus(rADV)which expressed green fluorescence protein(GFP),the GFP signal were observed in 96 well cell plate after spills appeared;Second,the routine two heishts(75 cm and 110 cm)and capacity(1 ml,1.5 ml,4 ml and 8 ml)of virus were chose to simulate the experiment of unexpected dropping.Results First,the positive quantity of the first group owning 5 years'experience is much less than the second group owning 2 years'work experience,the former was 7 positive wells,the latter was 81 positive when they used the pipette to operation.Second,when the unclosed test tubes(1 ml,1.5ml,4 ml and 8 ml recombinant virus)inadvertently dropped,the largest spill distance Was 0.92 m、1.57 m、2.63 mand 2.68 m respectively.Conclusion The better experience is important to make sure safety when we make infectious material;the contaminated distance increased with the amount of recombinant virus material.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression characteristics of the gene of coiled-coil domain-containing protein 70 (Ccdc70) in the mouse testis and its potential role in spermatogenesis.

METHODSUsing expression profile microarray, we screened the mouse testis-specific gene Ccdc70, studied its expression characteristics in the mouse testis by RT-PCR, real-time PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry, followed by bioinformatic analysis of the Ccdc70 protein.

RESULTSThe Ccdc70 gene was expressed highly in the testis but lowly in the epididymis of the mice. The Ccdc70 protein was expressed mainly in the spermatocytes and round spermatids of the testis and in the epithelial cells of the epididymis. Bioinformatic analysis showed a structural domain in the Ccdc70 protein, which was highly conserved in mammalian evolution.

CONCLUSIONThe Ccdc70 gene is highly expressed in the mouse testis and mainly in the spermatocytes, round spermatids, and epididymal epithelial cells, which indicates that it is involved in the regulation of spermatogenesis and epididymal sperm maturation.

Animals ; Computational Biology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Male ; Mice ; Proteins ; genetics ; Spermatogenesis ; genetics ; Testis ; metabolism