OBJECTIVETo evaluate the impacts on the short-term efficacy and the long-term prevention of recurrence of allergic rhinitis treated with the triple-strong stimulation at Dazhui (GV 14) so as to provide the convenient and long-term effective therapy of acupuncture and moxibustion for allergic rhinitis.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty cases of allergic rhinitis were randomized into an acupuncture group, an acupuncture + medication group and a triple-strong stimulation group, 40 cases in each one. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied at Dazhui (GV 14), Fengchi (GB 20), Baihui (GV 20), Yintang (GV 29) and the others, stimulating with reinforcing manipulation for the deficiency and reducing manipulation for the excess, once every day. In the acupuncture + medication group, on the basis of acupuncture therapy, claritin (loratadine tablets) was supplemented for oral administration, 10 mg, once every two days, continuously for 30 days. In the triple-strong stimulation group, on the basis of acupuncture therapy, the strong needling, strong cupping and strong moxibustion were applied at Dazhui (GV 14). This combined therapy was given once every day in the first 3 days and once every two days afterwards. The 10 day treatment made one session, at the interval of 3 days between the sessions and totally 3 sessions were required in the three groups. Separately, before treatment, after treatment and in 6 months after treatment, the changes of symptom and physical sign score and value of single item symptom including nasal itching, nasal blockage, sneezing and rhinorrhea were observed in the patients of the three groups. And the long-term clinical efficacy was compared among the three groups.

RESULTSThe symptom and physical sign score and the value of single item symptom were all reduced in the three groups after treatment and in 6 months after treatment (P < 0.001, P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The results in the triple-strong stimulation group were superior to the other two groups (all P < 0.05). In the triple-strong stimulation group, the total effective rate was 92.5% (36/40) in the follow-up of 6 months after treatment, which was better than 60.5% (23/38) in the acupuncture group and 69.2% (27/39) in the acupuncture + medication group (both P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe combined therapy of acupuncture and the triple-strong stimulation at Dazhui (GV 14) achieves the reliable and effective result in the clinical treatment of allergic rhinitis and displays the good role on the prevention from long-term recurrence.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; therapy ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDThe latest version of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM staging system has not comprehensively evaluated the impact of tumour length on survival in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Our study explored the relationship between tumour length and clinicopathological characteristics as well as long-term survival.

METHODSAll 202 cases of esophageal resections done from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2008 in Huashan Hospital, Fudan University were reviewed and followed up.

RESULTSPatients with tumour length = 3 cm were related to more advanced tumour stage (χ(2) = 55.9, P < 0.001), more metastatic lymph nodes (χ(2) = 14.6, P < 0.001), increased metastatic lymph node ratio χ(2) = 16.1, P < 0.001) and worse overall TNM stage (χ(2) = 48.1, P < 0.001). Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that tumour length was a significant prognostic risk factor (95% CI 0.235 - 0.947, P = 0.035). Subgroup analyses disclosed that tumour length was a valuable prognostic predictor in patients with lower T stage, absence of metastatic lymph nodes and lower TNM stage.

CONCLUSIONSEsophageal tumour length is a predictive factor for long-term survival especially for lower tumour stage, absence of metastatic lymph nodes and lower TNM stage patients. Tumour length should be incorporated in the staging system as an important grouping factor for better prognostic evaluation.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; mortality ; pathology ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis

OBJECTIVETo observe the differences of therapeutic effects on common cold of wind-cold type at early stage treated by different cupping duration.

METHODSSixty cases of common cold of wind-cold type were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group by fifty-fifty. Flash cupping was applied at Dazhui (GV 14), Fengmen (BL 12), Feishu (BL 13), Xinshu (BL 15) and Geshu (BL 16), etc., and the cupping was retained for 25-30 min in the observation group and 15 min in the control group. The therapeutic effects were compared after twice treatments.

RESULTSThe total effect rate was 93.3% (28/30) in observation group, superior to that 66.7% (20/30) in control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of common cold of wind-cold type at early stage treated with cupping for 25-30 min is obvious, superior to that for 15 min.

Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Common Cold ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the antiviral effects of the aqueous extract of Spatholobus suberectus Dunn. (A.E.), a Chinese medicinal herb, against coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3).

METHODSThe antiviral effects of A.E. against CVB3 in vitro (primarily cultured myocardial cells) and in vivo (BALB/c mice) were determined. Serum pharmacological method was also adopted by in vitro experiments. The effects of A.E. inhibiting the CVB3 mRNA expression were compared by RT-PCR in mice in vivo.

RESULTSA.E. exhibited obvious antiviral: effects in vivo, and serum samples obtained from the rats with oral administration of A.E. (10 μg/mL, 5 μg/mL), reduced the virus titers in the infected myocardial cells (3.00±0.70, 3.55±0.52, P<0.01). Meanwhile, the viral myocarditis induced by CVB3 was inhibited significantly by A.E., and the 15-day mortality was reduced to 40% and 45% (P<0.01) in mice treated with A.E. at doses of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg, respectively, while the 30-day mortality was decreased to 45% and 50%, respectively (P<0.01). Moreover, the mRNA expression of Coxsackie virus B3 was significantly inhibited by A.E.

CONCLUSIONAqueous extract of Spatholobus suberectus Dunn. (A.E.) has inhibitory effect on CVB3 both in vitro and in vivo.

Animals ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Coxsackievirus Infections ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; virology ; Enterovirus ; drug effects ; Fabaceae ; chemistry ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Survival Analysis ; Vero Cells ; Viral Load

OBJECTIVETo probe into a safe and effective method for treatment of functional ventricular premature, and develop a new preparation of Chinese herbs with high science and technique contents.

METHODSTwo hundred and thirty-eight cases were randomly divided into a slowly-releasing medication group (n = 118) and a western medicine group (n = 120). The slowly-control needle group were treated with intramuscular injection of slowly-releasing medication new type preparation made by proved recipe of Chinese herbs with replenishing and strengthening pectoral qi, and nourishing yin and tranquillization into Tanzhong (CV 17), Neiguan (PC 6), Xinshu (BL 15), Pishu (BL 20) and Feishu (BL 13) by a trocar to slowly release and control releasing of the medicine so as to maintain lasting stimulation; the western medicine group with oral administration of Rythmol, thrice daily, 150 mg each time.

RESULTSThe cured rate and the cured and markedly effective rate for the ventricular premature was 51.7% and 71.2% in the slowly-releasing medication group, which were significantly higher than 28.3% and 50.8% in the western medicine group (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe slowly-releasing medication new type preparation has a better therapeutic effect on functional ventricular premature, with high safety.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Ventricular Premature Complexes ; physiopathology ; therapy

A GeXP based multiplex PCR assay was developed to simultaneously detect six different chicken respiratory viruses including H5, H7, H9 subtypes of avian influenza virus(AIV), new castle disease virus (NDV), infectious bronchitis virus(IBV) and infectious laryngotracheitis virus(ILTV). According to the conserved sequences of genes of each pathogen, seven pairs of specific primers were designed, and the reaction conditions were optimized. The specificity and accuracy of GeXP were examined using samples of single and mixed infections of virus. The sensitivity was evaluated by performing the assay on serial 10-fold dilutions of cloned plasmids. To further evaluate the reliability, thirty-four clinical samples were detected by GeXP. The corresponding specific fragments of genes were amplified. The detection limit of GeXP was 10(2) copies/microL when all of 7 pre-mixed plasmids containing target genes of six chicken respiratory viruses were present. In the detection of thirty-four clinical samples, the results of GeXP were accorded with the viral isolation completely. In conclusion, this GeXP assay is a rapid, specific, sensitive and high-throughput method for the detection of chicken respiratory virus infections. It can be applied in rapid differential diagnosis for clinical samples, and also provide an effective tool to prevent and control chicken respiratory diseases with similar clinical symptoms.
Animals ; Chickens ; Influenza A virus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Influenza in Birds ; diagnosis ; virology ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Poultry Diseases ; diagnosis ; virology ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; diagnosis ; veterinary ; virology

BACKGROUNDSix provinces in China accounted for 70% - 80% of all reported HIV/AIDS cases in the country in 2009 and five provinces accounted for 78% of all reported mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV cases. Because Guangxi belonged to both groups, the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) Plus program was established there to understand better low birth weight (LBW) and preterm delivery (PD) birth outcomes and their associated risk factors better.

METHODSPregnancy outcomes were examined among HIV-infected pregnant women who enrolled in the PMTCT Plus program from June 2006 to February 2009 in Guangxi, China. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the risk factors associated with LBW (< 2500 g) and PD (gestational age < 37 weeks).

RESULTSThe prevalence of LBW and PD among 194 HIV-positive mothers was 19.6% (38/194) and 9.8% (19/194), respectively. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that CD4 cell count < 100 cell/µl (multivariate-adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 5.52; 95%CI 1.11 - 25.55) and CD4 cell count 100 - 199 cells/µl (AOR 3.40; 95%CI 1.03 - 11.25, compared to CD4 cell count ≥ 350 cells/µl), gestational age < 37 weeks (AOR 4.38; 95%CI 1.29 - 14.82, compared to ≥ 37 weeks), maternal weight < 45 kg (AOR 5.64; 95%CI 1.09 - 29.07) and maternal weight 45 - 54 kg (AOR 3.55; 95%CI 1.31 - 9.60, compared to ≥ 55 kg) at enrollment, and HIV RNA ≥ 100 000 copies/ml at enrollment (AOR 4.22; 95%CI 1.24 - 14.32) and 20 000 - 99 999 (AOR 2.77; 95%CI 1.01 - 7.77, compared to < 20 000 copies/ml) were associated with a higher risk of LBW. For PD, only maternal injection drug use as the route of HIV transmission (AOR 5.30; 95%CI 1.33 - 21.14, compared to those infected with HIV through sexual transmission) was significantly associated with a higher risk of PD.

CONCLUSIONSLower CD4 cell count and higher HIV RNA viral load at enrollment were associated with LBW. Optimal antenatal care, including earlier antenatal screening and HIV diagnosis, is critical to earlier PMTCT prophylaxis and/or HIV treatment to prevent transmission of HIV to the infant and also to prevent LBW pregnancy outcomes.

Adolescent ; Adult ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Gestational Age ; HIV Infections ; complications ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; physiology ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious ; epidemiology ; Premature Birth ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Risk Factors ; Viral Load ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the urinary nuclear matrix protein (NMP22) as an adjuvant diagnostic index for transitional cell carcinoma of urinary tract and monitoring the state of disease.

METHODSUrinary samples were collected from 262 patients with transitional cell carcinoma, 198 non-transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary tract and 65 patients with benign diseases. Urinary NMP22 concentration was determined through enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSThe urinary NMP22 concentration had significant difference among the three groups (Kruskal Wallis, chi(2) = 197.17 P < 0.001). The detection sensitivity and specificity of urinary NMP22 to transitional cell carcinoma were 71.37% and 87.69% respectively. The NMP22 concentration showed significant difference among three groups divided according to the pathological grade (Kruskal-Wallis test, chi(2) = 34.06 P < 0.01). The NMP22 concentration was significant lower in the recovery patients after the operation than the peoples of pre-operation and recurrence (Kruskal-Wallis test, chi(2) = 37.53, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONMP22 is a helpful tumor marker for the diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma and monitoring the state of illness with increased efficacy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; urine ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; diagnosis ; urine ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nuclear Proteins ; urine ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; urine

BACKGROUND: Caspofungin, a novel echinocandins systemic antifungal agent, has been shown to exert broad-spectrum antibacterial effect on deep fungal infections, which is superior to or equivalent with the role of amphotericin B, but there is no report on its application for preventing fungal infection after renal transplantation.OBJECTIVE: To analyze the difference in high risk factors of fungal infection after kidney transplantation using donation after cardiac death donors and living-related donor kidney transplantations, and to explore the feasibility and safety of caspofungin to prevent fungal infection after kidney transplantation using donation after cardiac death donors.METHODS: This was a prospective, single-center, controlled trial finished at the Department of Kidney Transplantation,the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Province, China. Totally 188 patients undergoing primary kidney transplantation without history of fungal infection and use of antifungal drugs between January 2012 and August 2013 were enrolled, including kidney transplantation with donation after cardiac death donors (n=102, trail group), and kidney transplantation with living-related donors (n=86, control group). The CYP3A5 genotype was determined preoperatively. All patients received tacrolimus+mycophenolate mofetil+prednisone triple immunosuppression after transplantation. The trial group was subjected to caspofungin therapy for 2 weeks. The risk factors for fungal infection in the two groups were compared, and the effects of caspofungin on the tacrolimus concentration, tacrolimus concentration/dose were detected in the recipients with same CYP3A5 genotype recipients at 1 and 2 weeks, and 1, 3 and 6 months postoperatively. The liver and kidney function, adverse events and fungal infections were recorded at different time points. This trial was registered with the Chinese Clinial Trial Registry (Regitration number:ChiCTR-OON-17013342).RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The survival rate of patient/kidney was 98.4% and 97.3% respectively, 97 cases in the trial group and 86 controls competed 6-month follow-up. Preoperative hemodialysis time, hemoglobin value, cold ischemia time, warm ischemia time, intraoperative blood transfusion volume, time of central venous catheter kept in situ,methylprednisolone usage, ATG usage, serum creatinine reduced level at 1 week, thrombocytopenia and duration of postoperative body temperature > 38 ℃ were the risk factors for fungal infection in the trail group relative to the control group. The fungal infection rate in the trial and control groups was 0% and 2.3%, respectively, at 6 months of follow-up.The serum creatinine level in the trail group was significantly higher than that in the control group at 1 month postoperatively (P < 0.05), and the level showed no significant difference between two groups at other time points (P >0.05). After 2 weeks of caspofungin treatment, the concentrations of tacrolimus and tacrolimus concentration/dosage did not differ significantly in different CYP3A5 genotype recipients (P > 0.05). Caspofungin might induce some adverse reactions, especially electrolyte disturbance with an incidence of 21.6%, but there was no significant difference between two groups (P > 0.05). These findings imply that kidney transplantation using donation after cardiac death donors presents with various risk factors for fungal infection compared with living-related donor kidney transplantation.Furthermore, caspofungin is effective and safe for preventing fungal infection and has no effect on tacrolimus concentration; therefore, it can be used as a new anti-fungal agent after kidney transplantation.

OBJECTIVEHeart failure is responsible for a huge burden in hospital care. Our goal was to evaluate the value of N-terminal-pro-brain natriuretic peptide (Nt-proBNP) on predicting death or hospital readmission after hospital discharge in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

METHODSFrom March 2003 to April 2005, 135 consecutive patients (97 male and 38 female, mean age 60.7 years +/- 13.1 years) with chronic heart failure [dilated cardiomyopathy (44%) and coronary heart disease (35%)] were included in this study. Plasma concentrations of the Nt-proBNP were measured by ELISA on admission. All patients received conventional therapy and were followed up for 24 months. The primary end point was death or readmission.

RESULTS(1) During the follow up period (640 days +/- 100 days), 11 patients died and 39 patients rehospitalized, the median Nt-proBNP level on admission was significantly higher in patients died during the follow up period (5908 ng/L) than that of rehospitalized patients (2768 ng/L, P = 0.038). Plasma Nt-proBNP level on admission were significantly higher in primary end point group (n = 50, 2947 ng/L) than that in non-primary end point group (n = 85, 917 ng/L, P < 0.01). (2) Variables associated with an increased hazard of death and/or rehospitalization were Nt-proBNP and NYHA degree when analyzed by logistic regression models. Increased Log Nt-proBNP was the strongest independent predictor of an adverse outcome of CHF (odds ratio 13.8, 95% confidence interval 2.29 to 2.78, P < 0.01). (3) Area under the curve for Nt-proBNP in evaluating prognosis of CHF patients was 0.885 (positive predictive value 88.5%, negative predictive value 11.5%).

CONCLUSIONNt-proBNP level on admission is a strong predictor of rehospitalization and death within 24 months after hospital discharge in patients with chronic heart failure.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cardiac Output, Low ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Heart Failure ; blood ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Peptide Fragments ; blood ; Prognosis ; Ventricular Function ; Young Adult