Objective:To observe the effect of warm-unblocking acupuncture plus fluticasone propionate nasal spray on the pulmonary ventilation, level of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and sleep quality in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). Methods: A total of 112 AR patients were enrolled between January 2013 and August 2018 and were divided into an observation group and a control group by the random number table method, with 56 cases in each group. Patients in the observation group received warm-unblocking acupuncture plus fluticasone propionate nasal spray, and patients in the control group only received fluticasone propionate nasal spray. The nasal symptom score, pulmonary function indexes, the levels of IFN-γ and interleukin (IL)-4 in serum, and sleep quality in the two groups were compared. Results: After treatment, the total effective rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P＜0.05). The nasal symptom score dropped in both groups after treatment (both P＜0.05), and the score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P＜0.05). The pulmonary ventilation indexes all increased significantly after treatment in the observation group (all P＜0.05); the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) to forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio (FEV1/FVC) and the forced expiratory flow at 50%, 75% and 25%-75% of the vital capacity (FEF50%, FEF75%, FEF25%-75%) increased after treatment in the control group (all P＜0.05); the pulmonary ventilation indexes were higher in the observation group than those in the control group (all P＜0.05). The level of IFN-γ increased significantly after treatment in the two groups (both P＜0.05) and the level of IL-4 dropped significantly (both P＜0.05); the observation group had a higher IFN-γ level (P＜0.05) and a lower IL-4 level (P＜0.05) compared with the control group. Regarding the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), the scores of subjective sleep quality, habitual sleep efficiency and sleep disturbances and the general PSQI score decreased significantly after treatment in both groups (all P＜0.05), and the scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (all P＜0.05). Conclusion: Warm-unblocking acupuncture plus fluticasone propionate nasal spray can effectively control the clinical symptoms and improve pulmonary function in the treatment of AR; this approach can regulate the levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 towards the normal range in AR patients; it can also improve patient’s sleep quality. This method can produce more significant efficacy than fluticasone propionate nasal spray used alone.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and their relationship in malignant melanoma.

METHODS32 cases of malignant melanoma and 11 samples of normal skin were examined for HIF-1 alpha and VEGF expression by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe expression rate of HIF-1 alpha and VEGF was 62.5% (20/32) and 84.8% (27/32), respectively, in malignant melanoma, and 9.1% (1/11) and 18.2% (2/11), respectively, in normal skin, showing a significant difference between the two groups. Positive relationship between the expression of HIF-1 alpha and VEGF was found in malignant melanoma (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS1) The high expression of HIF-1 alpha and VEGF in malignant melanoma indicates that it may play an important role in the generation and development of malignant melanoma. 2) The positive correlation between the expression of HIF-1 alpha and VEGF in malignant melanoma suggests that HIF-1 alpha may be involved in the regulation of VEGF in malignant melanoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Male ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Skin Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

Standardized Manipulation of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Part 8: Intradermal Needle was compiled with the following principles. The compiling standard, technical features and clinic manipulations of intradermal needle were taken as the basic principle for compiling. Literature research, expert survey and clinic practice verification were applied as the drafting methods. The key issues were focused on the relationship between standardization and individualization, normalization and effectiveness, qualification and quantification. And the postural selection, reinforcing and reducing manipulations, fixing materials and embedding duration involved in intradermal needling were emphasized particularly. At the same time, details and the future way of thinking of intradermal needle were expounded in this article as well.
Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; standards ; China ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; standards ; Needles ; standards ; Reference Standards

In this paper, we introduce the grid technology into the design of the distributed PACS. First, we analyse the architecture and functions of OGSA-DAI, and then, introduce a model of the distributed PACS based on OGSA-DAI, and give a detailed analysis on its basic components and workflow. Finally, we make a conclusion on the distributed PACS based on grid technology.
Computer Communication Networks ; Computer Systems ; Database Management Systems ; Humans ; Information Storage and Retrieval ; methods ; Medical Informatics ; Radiology Information Systems ; Software ; Software Design ; Systems Integration

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in clinical efficacy on lumber disc herniation (LDH) treated with Yaoyangguan (GV 3) between mild moxibustion under thermosensitive condition and that under non-thermo-sensitive condition.

METHODSFifty-seven LDH patients were selected as the study objects. Mild moxibustion at Yaoyangguan (GV 3) was applied for 45 min each time. Additionally, the conventional acupuncture was given, once a day, for 20 days. At the end of treatment, two groups were classified. A thermosensitive acupoint group (thermosensitive group) was composed of the cases with thermo-sensitization at Yaoyangguan (GV 3) and presenting for > or =4 times in the entire treatment. A non-thermosensitive acupoint group (tranquilization group) was composed of the cases without thermo-sensitization or the frequency of thermo-sensitization <4 times in the entire treatment. The modified Japanese orthopedics association scoring system (M-JOA) was adopted to observe the cases before and after treatment and 6 months after treatment in the two groups. The efficacy was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment and in 6 months after treatment, the score of M-JOA was apparently reduced as compared with that before treatment in the two groups (all P<0.05). The score reducing in the thermosensitization group was more obvious than that in the tranquilization group (both P<0.01). After treatment and in 6 months after treatment, the curative rate and remarkably effective rate were 89.7% (26/29) and 79.3% (23/29), which was better than 71.4% (20/28) and 60.7% (17/28, both P<0.05) in the tranquilization group separately.

CONCLUSIONMild moxibustion at acupoint under thermosensitive condition achieves the better short-term and long-term effects as compared with that under non-thermosensitive condition.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the current status of penis and testicular development in boys and the effects of overweight/obesity on their development in the Zhengzhou area of Henan Province.

METHODSHeight, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, penis length and testicular volume were measured in 3 546 4 to 12-year-old boys. The penis length and testicular volume were compared between the overweight/obesity and normal weight groups.

RESULTSBefore 9 years of age, the testicular volume was progressively smaller, and after 9 years old, it gradually increased. By the age of 11, it increased rapidly. The penis length increased gradually between 4 and 11 years of age, and after the age of 11 it increased rapidly. Phimosis was found in 144 cases (4.01%) and cryptorchidism was found in 18 cases (0.51%). A total of 639 (18.02%) boys were overweight or obese among 3 546 boys. At the ages of 6 and 7 years, the testicular volume in the overweight/obesity group was greater than in the normal control group (P<0.05). The penis length in the overweight/obesity group was significantly shorter than in the normal control group (P<0.05) by the age of 11 years. The correlation analysis showed that the testicular volume at the ages of 4 and 5 years was positively correlated with height, weight, BMI, waist circumference and hip circumference in overweight/obese boys. The penis length at the ages of 7 and 8 years was negatively correlated with weight, waist circumference and hip circumference. By the age of 12 years, the penis length was positively correlated with the height.

CONCLUSIONSThe development of penis and testicles in boys in the Zhengzhou area is in line with the level of sex development of Chinese boys. Overweight/obesity adversely affects the development of penis and testicles.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Overweight ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Penis ; growth & development ; Testis ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo construct a recombinant expression vector of the fusion protein epidermal growth factor (EGF)-Linker-trichosanthin (TCS) and achieve its expression in E. coli to obtain purified EGF-linker-TCS fusion protein.

METHODSThe gene fragments of EGF-linker were amplified by PCR and inserted into the expression plasmid PQE30-TCS, followed by transformation of the recombinant plasmid into E. coli M15 for expression of the fusion protein. Ni-FF column chromatography was utilized for purification of the expressed product.

RESULTSThe recombinant plasmid PQE30-EGF-linker-TCS was stably and highly expressed in E. coli M15. The expressed product existed in the form of soluble protein accounting for about 40% of total cellular protein and reached a purity of above 95% after purification with Ni-FF column chromatography.

CONCLUSIONThe recombinant plasmid PQE30/EGF-linker-TCS has been successfully constructed, which provides a basis for further structural and functional study of EGF and TCS and their potential clinical application for cancer therapy.

Blotting, Western ; Cloning, Molecular ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Trichosanthin ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of iNOS gene transfer on portal hypertensive rats.

METHODSEukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA(3)/iNOS was used to transfect sinusoidal endothelial cells (SEC) mediated by Lipofectamine. Transfection rate and gene exspression were detected. Hepatic cirrhosis was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride, and the cirrhotic rats were divided into three groups:Liposome-pcDNA(3)/iNOS (n = 10), Tris buffer (n = 10) and nude plasmid (n = 10), which were injected into the portal vein of experiment cirrhotic rats respectively. Five days later, animals were killed, immunohistochemistry and spectrophotometry methods were used to measure the expression of iNOS and the amount of NO production.

RESULTSEukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA(3)/iNOS could effectively transfect SEC and express corresponding gene products. Following iNOS gene transfer, compared with the two controlled groups, iNOS expression and the NO production were significantly increased meanwhile portal pressure was decreased significantly.

CONCLUSIONSThe iNOS gene transfer is a feasible and an effective approach to treat portal hypertension in cirrhotic rats which could increase the expression of intra-hepatic iNOS and the amount of NO production thus leading to a remarkable reduction of portal venous pressure.

Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; toxicity ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hypertension, Portal ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver ; chemistry ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; chemically induced ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Portal Pressure ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spectrophotometry ; Transfection ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate MRP8/MRP14-induced expression of inflammatory cytokines in mouse peritoneal macrophages and explore the mechanism.

METHODSTumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ inducible protein 10 (IP-10), interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-6, IL-5 and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) proteins in the culture supernatants of mouse peritoneal macrophages treated with recombinant MRP8/MRP14 were quantified using Luminex xMAP system. TNF-α, IP-10 and IL-6 levels were detected in the culture supernatants of the peritoneal macrophages after treatment with different domains of MRP14. Western blotting was used to detect the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, JNK and ERK in the cells after MRP8/MRP14 treatment. The effects of p38 MAPK, JNK, ERK inhibitors, TLR4 or RAGE receptor antagonists on MRP8/MRP14-induced expressions of TNF-α, IP-10 and IL-6 were tested.

RESULTSMRP8/MRP14 significantly increased TNF-α, IP-10 and IL-6 levels in mouse peritoneal macrophages by 98.2, 378.6 and 6.3 folds (P<0.01), respectively, but did not obviously affect IL-2, IL-5 and IFN-α levels. MRP14 protein and its calcium binding motifs such as EF hand-1, EF hand-2, EF hand-1+2, but not CT terminal domain, all induced TNF-α, IP-10 and IL-6 expressions (P<0.01). Phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, JNK and ERK were detected by Western blotting in the cells at 1 h after MRP8/MRP14 stimulation and sustained to 2 h. Compared with MRP8/MRP14, SB203580 (p38 MAPK inhibitor) significantly inhibited TNF-α, IP-10 and IL-6 expression (P<0.05), and SP600125 (JNK inhibitor) inhibited the expression of TNF-α and IP-10 (P<0.05) but not IL-6, PD98059 and U0126 (ERK and MEK1/2 inhibitor) reduced IL-6 expression (P<0.05). TNF-α, IP-10 and IL-6 levels were inhibited by TAK242 (P<0.05); IL-6 level in the cells was also partially inhibited by RAGE neutralizing antibody (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONMRP8/MRP14 can induce the expression of TNF-α, IP-10 and IL-6 in mouse peritoneal macrophages. MRP14 protein, which contain calcium binding motifs, has the biological activity of inducing cytokine expression. TNF-α and IP-10 expressions are related with TLR4 and its downstream p38 MAPKs and JNK; IL-6 is regulated by both TLR4 and RAGE and their downstream p38 MAPKs and ERK.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the association of cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) + 49A/G polymorphism with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in children.

METHODSPapers about the association of CTLA4+49A/G polymorphism with T1DM in children were collected by searching PubMed, EBSCO, CBM, CNKI, and Wanfang Data. A meta-analysis was performed to examine differences in the genotypes (AG, GG, and GG+AG) and G allele at position 49 of the CTLA-4 gene between a childhood T1DM group and a control group.

RESULTSA total of 10 papers involving 1084 T1DM children and 1338 healthy children were included. The Meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the association of the genotypes (AG, GG, and GG+AG) and the G allele at position 49 of the CTLA-4 gene with T1DM using a fixed effect model according to the heterogeneity test results of all studies. The pooled OR values (95% CI) were 1.13 (0.97-1.33), 1.42 (1.16-1.75), 1.20 (1.03-1.40), and 1.21 (1.09-1.33), suggesting a significant difference in genotypes (AG, GG, and GG+AG) and the G allele at position 49 of the CTLA-4 gene between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSCTLA-4 +49A/G polymorphism is associated with T1DM in children.

CTLA-4 Antigen ; genetics ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Genetic