OBJECTIVETo evaluate the short-term and long-term effects on treatment of neck pain caused by cervical spondylosis with the combination of acupuncture and moxibustion with seed-size moxa cone.

METHODSOne hundred and forty-five patients of neck pain were randomly divided into an acupuncture-moxibustion group (49 cases), an acupuncture group (48 cases) and a moxibustion group (48 cases). Acupoints of Bailao (Extra), Dazhui (GV 14), Jianzhongshu (SI15) and Zhongzhu (TE 3) were adopted for all the 3 groups. Acupuncture was applied at all the acupoints with 20 min needling retention for the acupuncture group. Moxibustion with seed-size moxa cone was used with 5 cones on each point for the moxibustion group. And both acupuncture and moxibustion with seed-size moxa cone were adopted for the acupuncture-moxibustion group. The treatment was applied once every 3 days, and 10 treatments should be finished within 4 weeks. Follow-up should be carried out for 3 months. The short-term and long-term effects were evaluated with the scores of Northwick Park Pain Questionnaire (NPQ) and McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) as the indices of therapeutic effect.

RESULTSThe NPQ score and MPQ score of all the 3 groups after the treating course and the 3-month follow-up were both decreased when compared with those before the treatment (all P<0. 05). The scores of NPQ and MPQ the acupuncture-moxibustion group were lower than that of the other two groups. And the difference had obvious significance (P<0. 05). High efficiency of pain relieving for cervical spondylosis could be found in all the 3 groups, which showed that short-term and long-term effects were good for all the 3 groups. And the highest curative effect could be found in acupuncture-moxibustion group.

CONCLUSIONCombination of acupuncture and moxibustion with seed-size moxa cone has reached a superior effect in short-term and long-term for neck pain caused by cervical spondylosis.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; instrumentation ; Neck Pain ; etiology ; therapy ; Spondylosis ; complications ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To establish a HPLC method for the determination of psoralen and bergapten in Ficus hirta Vahl.Methods A Merck-lichrospher C18(4 mm?250 mm,5 ?m)column was adopted.The mobile phase was acetonitrile-water(35∶65) with the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min.The column temperature was 35 ℃,and the detection wavelength was set at 222 nm.Results Psoralen's linearity was obtained in the range of 0.12 ?g～1.20 ?g(r=0.999 7),and bergapten's linearity in the range of 0.03 ?g～0.30 ?g(r=0.999 5).Psoralen's average recovery was 100.9 %with RSD 2.9 %,and that of bergapten was 99.6 %with RSD 1.9 %.Conclusion This is the first report of simultaneous determination of psoralen and bergapten in Ficus hirta Vahl.by HPLC,and the results showed the method is accurate,reproducible,and can serve as quality evaluation method for Ficus hirta Vahl.

Objective To investigate the molecular mechanism of solanine-induced apoptosis of prostate cancer cells Du145 and LNCaP.Methods The effects of solanine on the viability of Du145 and LNCaP cells were evaluated by MTT assay.The generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and solanine-induced apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry.The protein levels of p38 and p-p38 expressions were examined by Western blot.Results Solanine significantly inhibited the viability of Du145 and LNCaP cells in a dose-dependent manner (P＜0.01).The inhibition of solanine on cell viability was suppressed by the ROS scavenger NAC.ROS generation,apoptosis and phosphorylation of p38 were induced by treatment with solanine at 40 μmol/L for 24 h.The expression of p38 and solanine-induced apoptosis were suppressed by NAC and SB203580.Conclusion Solanine induces the apoptosis of human prostate cancer cell via the RO.S-p38 signaling pathway.

Objective To study in vitro the effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on the proliferation and differentiation of cultured myoblasts,and to explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind any therapeutic effect of LIPUS.Methods Myoblasts were isolated from the skeletal muscles of mice and cultured in vitro.Treatment and control groups of proliferating and differentiating myoblasts were defined.The treatment groups were exposed to LIPUS at 1.5 MHz and a spatial and temporal average intensity of 30 mW/cm2,for 20 min daily,the proliferation group for 6 consecutive days and the differentiation group for 4 consecutive days.The cell proliferation kinetics of the proliferation group were analyzed using flow cytometry.The expression of myogenic regulation factor MyoD and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the proliferation group,and of myosin heavy chain (MHC) in the differentiation group were examined by immunofluorescent staining.Myoblast fusion indexes were analyzed.Results In the LIPUS treatment groups the proliferating myoblasts had a higher ratio of active cells in the G2 and S phases (19.30％ ±5.14％,37.00％ ±8.72％),compared with the controls (10.33％ ± 1.53％,25.00％ ±4.36％),and the proliferation index increased significantly.The expression of HO-1 was up-regulated,while MyoD staining was unchanged.During the induction of differentiation,the myoblasts of the treatment group fused into smaller myotubes and the myoblast fusion index (18.73％ ± 6.81％) was significantly lower than that of the control group (37.52％ ± 11.23％),while MHC expression did not change markedly.Conclusion LIPUS can promote myoblast proliferation while inhibiting their differentiation,but it does not affect the cells' myogenic properties.HO-1 may be involved in the regulation process.

Objective The aim of this phase Ⅱ study was to determine the efficacy and safety of combined bortezomib and thalidomide (VT) regime as initial treatment for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) in China. Methods Thirty-four patients were enrolled in this study and received VT regime up to 21-day cycles. Bortezomib (1.3 mg/m2) was administered intravenously on days 1, 4, 8, and 11, while oral thalidomide ( 100 mg/day) was given from days 1 to 21. The primary end point was clinical response.The secondary end point was safety. Results Among the 34 patients, 20 were male, 14 were female, with a median age of 59 years, and 15 in international stage system (ISS) Ⅲ ,18 in ISS Ⅱ , 1 in ISS Ⅰ . Among them, 28 completed 2 cycles' treatment and achieved an overall response rate (ORR) of 92.9%; 26 were able to complete the planned 8 cycles of therapy. After 8 cycles, the ORR was 100% ( complete response 30. 8%, near-complete response 23.1%, partial response 42. 3%, minimal response 3.8% ). After followed up with a median time of 12 months, the estimated rate without progress of disease was 62%, and the estimated continous remission rate of 12 months was 62%. The median survival time was not achieved. The most common adverse events were mild to moderate ( grades 1, 2). The main toxicities were hematologic (53. 3% ), gastrointestinal ( 40. 0% ), peripheral neuropathy ( 38.0% ), fatigue ( 36. 6% ) and fever (32. 0% ). Conclusions VT regime provides a very high ORR and complete response rate in the treatment of newly diagnosed MM patients. No patients experienced deep venous thrombosis. In conclusion,bortezomib in combination with thalidomide is a very effective regimen for newly diagnosed MM patients and the toxicities are manageable.

The clinical laboratory technology has gradually changed the traditional detection methods. The new detection technology provides a more rapid and more accurate way for the disease diagnosis. The designs of the clinical laboratory equipments pay more attention to human factors, low cost and benefit for environment protection.
Clinical Laboratory Information Systems ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; instrumentation ; trends ; Equipment Design ; Humans ; Laboratories, Hospital ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; instrumentation ; methods ; Robotics ; Software

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intradetrusor injection of botulinum toxin type A in the treatment of ketamine-related cystitis.Methods A retrospective analysis of clinical data of 36 ketamine-related cystitis patients with intradetrusor injection of botulinum toxin type A treatment in our hospital during August 2010 to December 2015 was conducted, including 31 males and 5 females with a mean age of 25.5 years.All patients had failed to conventional treatment options including cessation of ketamine, antibiotics, M-blockers.At the time of the first injection, patients were injected with 200 U botulinum toxin type A diluted in 15 ml of 0.9％ saline into the detrusor muscle at 30 sites, sparing the trigone, under cystoscopic guidance.3-d voiding diary, interstitial cystitis symptom index (ICSI),interstitial cystitis problem index (ICPI), pelvic pain and urinary frequency/urgency symptom score (PUF) were recorded to evaluate the efficacy.The treatment-related complications were recorded.When the efficacy of botulinum toxin type A decreased and the patient's symptoms returned to baseline before treatment, the patient received repeated injections of botulinum toxin type A with the same dose and method as the first injection.Results Thirty-six patients with ketamine-related cystitis were treated with intradetrusor injection of botulinum toxin type A.Sixteen patients received two injection treatments and two patients received three injection treatments.During the follow-up, 3-d urinary diaries, ICSI, ICPI, and PUF showed a significant improvement in outcome at 4 weeks after the first injection.The efficacy of the second and third injection treatment was also remarkable.Three patients developed urinary tract infection after the first injection, and two patients developed urinary tract infection after the second injection.Mild hematuria occurred in 15 patients after the first injection, and mild hematuria occurred in 7 patients after the second injection, which was improved in 1 to 2 days.All patients did not appear acute urinary retention and other adverse drug reactions.Conclusions Intradetrusor injection of botulinum toxin type A could be a safe and effective method for the treatment of ketamine-related cystitis.Repeated injection therapy is still safe and effective.

Total RNA was extracted from leaf of Suaeda hetroptera kitag, then the CMO ( choline monooxygenase) cDNA was amplified using the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction ( RT-PCR) method and cloned into pMD-T-simple vector. The positive clones from the Blue/White Screen were sequenced. After confirming its validity, the CMO gene fragment was cloned into pBI121 vector. Double enzyme restriction and PCR analysis indicated that the pBI121/CMO recombinant plasmid was successfully constructed.

OBJECTIVEBy measuring airflow and ventilation distribution of ward building, to explore and verify the hypothesis of airborne transmission and risk factor of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) nosocomial infection.

METHODSTracer gas (perfume of plant oil) was emitted to the bathroom of wards when SARS index patient lived. Six different experimental situations were designed to control the status of exhaust fan in bathrooms, exhaust fan in the top of building and fresh air exchange system. The concentration of perfume was separately measured by 4 groups of lab workers and recorded blindly by the scores of "tenth degree".

RESULTSTracer gas was detected from the wards of 8th to 13th floor.

CONCLUSIONArchitecture and ventilation system of the inpatient building in the hospital contributed to the aerodynamic condition of SARS nosocomial infection through airborne transmission. The distribution of tracer gas in the wards was associated with SARS patients in this building. It was possible that SARS could have been transmitted to for distance by aerosol or other carriers.

Air Microbiology ; China ; Cross Infection ; etiology ; Hospitals ; Humans ; SARS Virus ; isolation & purification ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; transmission ; Ventilation

Objective To study the reasons of natural death of Oncomelania hupensis snails in marshland by comparing the differences of environmental factors between snail marshland and non-snail marshland in East Dongting Lake schistosomiasis en-demic areas. Methods Two adjoining marshlands were selected,one was a snail marshland and another was a non-snail marsh-land. The measuring points were set by grid of“20m × 20m”. The soil moisture,elevation,soil pH and temperature of the points were measured,and the snails of the points were surveyed. Results The elevation,soil pH and temperature of the snail natural death marshland were all lower than those of the snail marshland(P<0.01). The soil moisture,elevation,soil pH and temperature of different snail densities in the snail marshland were different(P<0.05). The soil moisture of the non-snail group was higher than that of other four groups(P<0.01)and the soil moisture of the group with 0-11 snails per frame was lower than that of other four groups(P<0.01). The elevation of the group with 0-11 snails per frame was lower than that of the group with 24-39 snails per frame and the group with more than 39 snails per frame(P<0.05). The soil pH of the group without snails was higher than that of other four groups(P<0.01)and the soil temperature of the group with 0-11 snails per frame was lower than that of the group with 24-39 snails per frame. The differences of soil moisture and elevation of different death snail densities were not significant, while the differences of soil pH and temperature were significant. The soil pH of the non-snail died group was higher than that of the 2-died,3-died and more than 3-died groups(P<0.05). The soil temperature of the non-snail died group was higher than that of other four groups(P<0.05). Conclusion The elevation,soil pH and soil temperature within the range of the research may be the factors affecting the snail natural death and the soil moisture,elevation,soil pH and soil temperature may be the factors affect-ing the distribution of snails.