OBJECTIVETo compare the differences in clinical efficacy on peripheral facial paralysis at acute stage between the opposing needling technique and routine acupuncture at the affected side so as to provide the evidence on the acupuncture treatment for peripheral facial paralysis at acute stage.

METHODSForty patients were rando- mized into an opposing needling technique group (19 cases) and an affected side needling technique group (21 cases). The basic medication was same in the two groups. The acupoints were Fengchi (GB 20), Yangbai (GB 14) to Yuyao (EX-HN 4) (penetrating needling method), Jingming (BL 1), Chengqi (ST 1), Xiaguan (ST 7), Jiache (ST 6) to Dicang (ST 4), Hegu (LI 4) and Zusanli (ST 36). In supplementation, in the opposing needling technique group, the acupoints were stimulated on the face of healthy side. In the affected side needling technique group, the acupoints were stimulated on the face of the affected side. The treatment was given three times a week, for 4 weeks. House-Brackmann (H-B) facial nerve function assessment was used to evaluate facial nerve function before and after treatment in the patients of the two groups. The efficacy was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe facial nerve function was recovered in the two groups and the total effective rate was 100.0% in the two groups (P>0.05). The curative rate was 68.4% (13/19) in the opposing needling technique group and better than 47.6% (10/21) in the affected side needling technique group (P<0.05). On the 7th and 14th day, scores of H-B in the opposing needling technique group were better than those in the affected side needling technique group (both P<0.05). The curative time in the opposing needling technique group was apparently shorter than that in the affected side needling technique group ((23.95 +/- 4.30) days vs. (29.14 +/- 5.43) days, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe opposing needling technique accelerates the recovery of facial nerve function in peripheral facial paralysis at acute stage and apparently shortens the curative time. The efficacy is better than that in acupuncture on the affect- ed side of the face.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Facial Paralysis ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture on withdrawal anxiety in heroin-dependent patients. Methods: Sixty heroin-withdrawal subjects with negative urine morphine were digitally randomized into two groups: acupuncture group in which 30 cases were treated by electroacupuncture and control group in which 30 cases were given no treatment. The patients were assessed by Hamilton anxiety scale before treatment and one week, two weeks and three weeks after treatment. Results: After treatment, the anxiety symptoms of heroin-dependent patients were improved more significantly in the acupuncture group than in the control group (P<0.01). Conclusion: Electroacupuncture has good effects on anxiety symptoms and emotions of heroin-dependent patients.

AIM To study the epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor ? (TGF ?)and the epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)during the course of rats gastric ulcer natural cure expressing and its possible biology meaning. METHODS We injected acetic acid to make the ulcer animal model, location expression characteristic of EGF and TGF ? and EGFR were studied by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS The normal rats stomach mucosa EGF,TGF ? and EGFR all expressed weakly at masculine. EGF and TGF ? was located at cytoplasm,and EGFR expressesed at cytoplasm and cell membrane and the expression position of the three ovrlopped with each other. EGF concentrated mainly on the cervical part of gastric gland, and TGF ? and EGFR, on the cervical and base parts of the gastric gland. Positive 9 expression cells were primarily parietal[FQ(11?46,X-WZ] and neck cells of the stamook muc. For materials taken during the course of ulcer natural recovery, regular ohanges were observed in TGF, TGF ? and EGFR expression. Higher expression was found in ulcer tissunes than in normal tissues, while the expression was not detectable in necrotic tissues and rarely detectable in granlation and scar tissnes. The expression became apparant only during healing and scar stages of ulcer but not in early stage. CONCLUSION ①TGF ?/EGFR autocrine system probably plays a leading role in maintaining rats mucosa completeness under the normal circumstances; ②EGF/EGFR and TGF ?/EGFR autocrine system may have important effect on the differentiation, hyperplasia, moving of cell and restraining the gastric acidity.

Antimicrobial peptides, a cluster of small peptides secreted by the majority of creatures, have been demonstrated with activity against a wide range of microorganisms including bacteria, protozoa, yeast, fungi, viruses and even tumor cells. These peptides have some features such as broad spectrum , high effi-cacy and stability, little drug resistance. A lack of new antibiotics combined with emerging multi-drug resis-tance issues demands that new antimicrobial strategies be explored for treating these infections. It has been proposed that the antimicrobial peptides might form the foundation for a new class of clinically useful an-timicrobials. We review the advantages of these molecules in construction features and bioactivity, with the focus on the mechanism and clinical applications.

OBJECTIVETo compare the different therapeutic effect between acupuncture at Shiqizhui (EX-B 8) only and multi acupoints on dysmenorrhea.

METHODSThirty eight cases were randomly divided into a single acupoint group and a multi-acupoints group, 19 cases in each group. The single acupoint group was treated by acupuncture at Shiqizhui (EX-B 8) only, and the multi-acupoints group by acupuncture at Shiqizhui (EX-B 8), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Diji (SP 8), Ciliao (BL 32). They were all treated from the first day when sudden intense pain occurs, one time each day, for 3 days in each menstrual cycle, the treatment of three menstrual cycles. The therapeutic effect and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were compared and the score of general frequency and severity of dysmenorrhea by using Cox Menstrual Symptom Scale (CMSS) were evaluated.

RESULTSThe cured rate was 68.4% (13/19) and the effective rate was 31.6% (6/19) in the single acupoint group, being similar to 78.9% (15/19) and 21.1% (4/19) in the multi-acupoints group (P > 0.05). VAS and the scores of general frequency and severity of dysmenorrhea were all significantly decreased after treatment in both groups (all P < 0.001), with no significant difference between the two groups (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at Shiqizhui (EX-B 8) only can be as effective as selecting multi-acupoints to cure essential dysmenorrhea.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Analgesia ; Dysmenorrhea ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Young Adult

Objective To study the effect of using different tibial nerve proximal muscle branchs to repair deep peroneal nerve injury in animal experiment, and to screen out the most optimal donor nerve branch. Methods From June, 2016 to August, 2016, 64 adult female SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, which were LHG (using lateral head of gastrocnemius to repair peroneal nerve), MHG(using medial head of gastrocnemius to repair peroneal nerve), SNB (using soleus nerve branch to repair peroneal nerve), and blank. There were16 rats in each group. At 4 and 8 weeks after surgery, each group were tested on behavior, electrophysiology, muscle tension, muscle wet weight and histology, to evaluate function recovery of the muscles controlled by deep peroneal nerve in each group, and to compare recovery of the deep peroneal nerve repaired by different tibial nerve branches. Results Eight weeks after surgery,right foot of the rats in LHG,MHG and SNB group can be extended,toes can be completely opened. Rats in blank group showed limping gait, whose right foot can not be extended, right toe can not be opened, and muscle atrophied. At 4 and 8 weeks after the operation, the recovery rate of LHG, MHG, SNB group (at 4th weeks, 33.60 ±2.22)%, 33.07 ±2.38% and 35.91 ±2.02%; at 8th weeks, 67.16 ±5.74)%, 66.56 ±3.18% and 73.17 ± 5.33%, respectively)was higher than blank group(7.71±1.05% and 7.84±0.78%, respectively)on CMAP amplitude, tibialis anterior muscle contractility, tibialis anterior muscle cell area, muscle cell area. SNB group was superior to the LHG group and LHG group.And the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). Conclusion All the proxi-mal tibial nerve muscle branchs can be used to repair the deep peroneal nerve injury, and the soleus nerve branch is the preferred donor nerve.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate possible cross-talk genes, associated pathways, and transcription factors between chronic periodontitis (CP) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: The gene expression profiles of CP (GSE10334 and GSE16134) and COPD (GSE76925) were downloaded from the GEO database. Differential expression and functional clustering analyses were performed. The protein‑protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed. The core cross-talk genes were filtered using four topological analysis algorithms and modular segmentation. Then, functional clustering analysis was performed again. RESULTS: GSE10334 detected 164 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (119 upregulated and 45 downregulated). GSE16134 identified 208 DEGs (154 upregulated and 54 downregulated). GSE76925 identified 1 408 DEGs (557 upregulated and 851 downregulated). The PPI network included 21 nodes and 20 edges. The final screening included seven cross-talk genes: CD79A, FCRLA, CD19, IRF4, CD27, SELL, and CXCL13. Relevant pathways included primary immunodeficiency, the B-cell receptor signaling pathway, and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. CONCLUSIONS This study indicates the probability of shared pathophysiology between CP and COPD, and their cross-talk genes, associated pathways, and transcription factors may offer novel concepts for future mechanistic investigations.
Humans ; Chronic Periodontitis/genetics* ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Protein Interaction Maps/genetics* ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/genetics*

Objective:To establish and identify a SD rat model with reconstruction of bladder sensory and motor innervation , so as to lay the foundation for further study of micturition center remodeling and its mechanisms .Methods:A total of 45 female SD rats were randomly divided into control group(n=10) ,rhizotomy group(n=15) and nerve root anastomosis group(n=20) . All the ventral and dorsal roots of spinal nerve below L4 level of rats in rhizotomy group were cut off .In nerve root anastomosis group ,the bilateral ventral and dorsal roots of L4 nerve ,were anastomosed with those of S1 nerve ,after the spinal nerve roots had been cut off .Rats in control group were not treated with surgery . At Six months after surgery ,rats in each group underwent urodynamic test ,nerve root stimulation ,toluidine blue staining at nerve anastomosis site ,pelvic ganglia fluorescence gold tracer staining and bladder wet weight measurements .Results:Bladder maximum capacity ,residual urine volume ,bladder compliance and bladder wet weight in nerve root anastomosis group was less than those in rhizotomy group ,however ,larger than those in control group(P<0 .05) .There was no statistically significant difference in maximum voiding pressure between nerve root anastomosis group and control group(P> 0 .05) ,however ,maximum voiding pressure in nerve root anastomosis group was larger than that in rhizotomy group(P<0 .05) .Intravesical pressure increased after nerve root stimulation in nerve root anastomosis group ,but it was still lower than that in control group(P<0 .05) .Nerve passing rate was (53 .4 ± 6 .7)% in nerve root anastomosis group ,under toluidine blue staining at nerve anastomosis site .After injection of fluorescent gold in pelvic ganglia ,fluorescence gold staining was visible in the L4 spinal cord gray matter in nerve root anastomosis group , however ,not visible in rhizotomy group and control group .Conclusions:SD rat model with reconstruction of bladder sensory and motor innervation is successfully established .It lays the foundation for further study of micturition center remodeling and its mechanism .

Objective:To understand the current status of pubertal sexual characteristics development of girls aged 6-18 years in Tongzhou District of Beijing and to compare the differences in sexual characteristics development among girls characterized as thin, normal, overweight, and obese.Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 2 844 girls aged 6-18 years in Tongzhou District of Beijing from September 2022 to July 2023. The developmental stages of breast and pubic hair were assessed on site, and menarche status was inquired. Weight and height were measured. The girls were subsequently characterized into thin, normal, overweight and obese groups. Basic information (including family and personal history) was obtained through questionnaires. Probit probability unit regression was applied to calculate the age of each Tanner stage of sexual characteristics development and the age of menarche. The χ 2 test was applied to compare the counting data between two or multiple groups. Results:A total of 2 844 girls were surveyed and 2 704 girls met the inclusion criteria, resulting in a valid response rate of 95.1%. Among these girls, 1 105 (40.9%) were aged 6-9 years, 1 053 (38.9%) were aged 10-13 years, and 546 (20.2%) were aged 14-18 years. The of height-for-age Z-score (HAZ), weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ), and body mass index-for-age Z-score (BAZ) were 0.46(-0.23,1.16), 0.69(-0.16,1.67), and 0.67(-0.27,1.73) respectively. The prevalences of thin, overweight, and obesity were respectively 1.7% (45/2 704), 17.3% (467/2 704), and 19.9% (538/2 704), respectively. There were 45 girls in the thin group, 1 654 girls in the normal weight group, 1 005 girls in the overweight and obesity group. The age of Tanner stage breast 2 (B2), Tanner stage pubic hair 2 (P2), and menarche was 9.0 (95% CI 8.9-9.1), 10.5 (95% CI 10.4-10.6), and 11.4 (95% CI 11.3-1.5) years, respectively. The current status of breast and pubic hair maturity in girls with pubertal development shows that 64.6% (1 211/1 874) of these girls had breast development preceding pubic hair development, 32.4% (607/1 874) had concurrent breast and pubic hair development, and 3.0% (56/1 874) had pubic hairs development preceding breast development. The interval age between B2 and B5 was 4.7 (95% CI 4.6-4.8) years, between P2 and P5 was 4.5 (95% CI 4.4-4.6) years, and between B2 and menarche was 2.4 (95% CI 2.3-2.5) years. The ages of sexual characteristics development in overweight and obese groups were earlier than that in normal and thin groups. The ages of B2 in thin, normal, overweight, and obese groups were 10.0 (95% CI 9.5-10.6), 9.3 (95% CI 9.2-9.4), and 8.6 (95% CI 8.4-8.7) years, respectively. The age of menarche in thin, normal, overweight, and obese groups were 13.1 (95% CI 12.4-13.7), 11.6 (95% CI 11.4-11.7), and 11.1 (95% CI 11.0-11.2) years, respectively. The interval ages between B2 and B5 and between P2 and P5 was 4.5 and 4.1 years, respectively in the overweight and obese groups, and those in normal group and thin group was 4.7 and 4.5 years, 4.6 and 4.7 years, respectively. Conclusions:The ages of sexual characteristics development and menarche tend in Tongzhou District of Beijing to be earlier than that being reported of Beijing's survey 20 years ago. Girls characterized as overweight and obese not only start puberty at an earlier age than girls of normal weight, but also have a shorter developmental process.

The vagina contains at least a billion microbial cells,dominated by lactobacilli.Here we perform metagenomic shotgun sequencing on cervical and fecal samples from a cohort of 516 Chinese women of reproductive age,as well as cervical,fecal,and salivary samples from a second cohort of 632 women.Factors such as pregnancy history,delivery history,cesarean section,and breastfeeding were all more important than menstrual cycle in shaping the microbiome,and such information would be necessary before trying to interpret differences between vagino-cervical micro-biome data.Greater proportion of Bifidobacterium breve was seen with older age at sexual debut.The relative abundance of lactobacilli especially Lactobacillus crispatus was negatively associated with pregnancy history.Potential markers for lack of menstrual regularity,heavy flow,dysmenor-rhea,and contraceptives were also identified.Lactobacilli were rare during breastfeeding or post-menopause.Other features such as mood fluctuations and facial speckles could potentially be predicted from the vagino-cervical microbiome.Gut and salivary microbiomes,plasma vitamins,metals,amino acids,and hormones showed associations with the vagino-cervical microbiome.Our results offer an unprecedented glimpse into the microbiota of the female reproductive tract and call for international collaborations to better understand its long-term health impact other than in the settings of infection or pre-term birth.