Objective This study aimed to investigate the clinical effect of long-snake moxibustion combined with modified Duhuo Jisheng Decoction in the treatment of the liver-kidney deficiency pattern of lumbar disc herniation. Methods All patients with liver-kidney deficiency pattern of lumbar disc herniation admitted to Nanchang Hongdu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from March 2021 to April 2023 were assigned the control group and the experimental group by random number table method,with 68 cases in each group. The control group was treated with conventional Western medicine,and the experimental group was treated with long-snake moxibustion combined with modified Duhuo Jisheng Decoction based on the control group for four consecutive weeks. Observe the clinical efficacy,the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score,and traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score of two groups of patients. Detect the serum levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2),transforming growth factor-β 1 (TGF-β1),interleukin-1β (IL-1β),matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2),and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in two groups of patients. Results Compared with the control group (79.41％),the clinical efficaly of experimental group (94.12％) was increased (P<0.05). Compared with before treatment,TCM syndrome score of 2 groups was decreased,JOA score was increased,serum PGE2,TGF-β1,MMP-2,HIF-1α,and IL-1β were decreased after treatment (P<0.05). After treatment,compared with control group,TCM syndrome score of experimental group was decreased,JOA score was increased,serum PGE2,TGF-β1,MMP-2,HIF-1α,and IL-1β were decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion Long-snake moxibustion combined with modified Duhuo Jisheng Decoction can significantly reduce the inflammatory response of patients with liver-kidney deficiency pattern of lumbar disc herniation,inhibit the secretion of pain mediators,improve lumbar function,and thus improve clinical efficacy.

Objective To explore the impact of vascular calcification on patency rate of arteriovenous fistula(AVF)after ultrasound-guided percutaneous transluminal angioplasty(UG-PTA)for stenosis.Methods Forty-eight chronic kidney disease patients who underwent maintenance hemodialysis(HD)and received UG-PTA since autologous or artificial AVF stenosis were retrospectively enrolled.The patients were divided into calcification group(n=21)and non-calcification group(n=27)according to ultrasonic findings of AVF calcification or not.The technical success rate of UG-PTA,the clinical success rate and UG-PTA related adverse events were recorded.Ultrasound was performed to evaluate the patency of AVF 3,6,9,12,24 and 36 months after UG-PTA,and the primary and secondary patency rates were calculated.Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to analyze the patency rates of AVF.Results UG-PTA was successfully performed in all 48 cases.All patients completed more than 3 times effective HD,the technical and clinical success rate both of 100%(48/48).No serious adverse event occurred.In calcification group,the primary patency rate 3,6,9,12,24 and 36 months after UG-PTA was 75.89%,37.95%,37.95%,27.10%,14.46%and 0,and the secondary patency rate was 95.24%,95.24%,95.24%,89.95%,83.03%and 83.03%,respectively,while in non-calcification group the primary patency rate was 92.31%,73.08%,57.69%,53.85%,36.15%and 36.15%,and the secondary patency rate was 100%,100%,100%,100%,95.24%and 95.24%,respectively.After UG-PTA,the primary patency rate in calcification group was lower than that in non-calcification group(P＜0.05),but there was no significant difference of the secondary patency rate between groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion Calcification was a risk factor for primary patency rate of AVF after UG-PTA for stenosis,but had no significant impact on the secondary patency rate.

Objective To explore the effect of blended learning in practical training of acupuncture techniques.Methods Sophomores of acupuncture and Tuinaspeciality were divided into two groups based on classes,with 38 students in experimental group and 34 in control group,adopting blended learning and traditional method in teaching acupuncture techniques respectively.Blended learning mainly adopts mixed methods of both online "punch-card" on WeChat community and offline class learning.Post-test score of two groups were compared by independent samples t-test with SPSS 19.0.The teaching effect of blended learning was evaluated in students in experimental group by questionnaire survey.Results The total score of acupuncture techniques (4.73 ± 0.15) in experimental group were significantly higher than that of control group (4.27 ± 0.46) (t=5.588,P＜0.01) and students' satisfaction concerning the blended learning in experimental group was up to 88％ (22/25).Conclusion Blended learning can promote students' acupuncture skills and cultivate good study habits,making practice in class more targeted.More friendly online learning tools needs to be further developed.

Objective To investigate the clinical application of the 2011 edition of China Nanjing Persistent Vegetative State (NPVSS 2011).Methods Three hundred and one patients with vegetative state (VS),persistent vegetative state (PVS) and minimally conscious state (MCS) admitted into hospital from February 22,2011 to May 30,2014 were chosen for the study.Patient conditions and treatment efficacy were assessed by using the NPVSS 2011.Results With regard to conscious state at admission into hospital,109 cases were in VS,65 were in PVS and 127 were in MCS.When discharged from hospital,there were 8 VS cases,72 PVS cases,91 MCS cases,and 130 Ⅲ cases that could carry out more complicated instructions.Of all the cases,164 cases had prominent efficacy,31 were improved,106 were invalid,and 130 cases that had consciousness recovery to the state of Ⅲ.Conclusions The CNPVSS could reflect the changing processes of patient conditions,having the features of being simple and clear,conforming to clinical practice,and above all being easy to master and operate.With this reason,it could be applied to clinical practice.

Objective To investigate the clinical application of the 2011 edition of China Nanjing Persistent Vegetative State (NPVSS 2011).Methods Three hundred and one patients with vegetative state (VS),persistent vegetative state (PVS) and minimally conscious state (MCS) admitted into hospital from February 22,2011 to May 30,2014 were chosen for the study.Patient conditions and treatment efficacy were assessed by using the NPVSS 2011.Results With regard to conscious state at admission into hospital,109 cases were in VS,65 were in PVS and 127 were in MCS.When discharged from hospital,there were 8 VS cases,72 PVS cases,91 MCS cases,and 130 Ⅲ cases that could carry out more complicated instructions.Of all the cases,164 cases had prominent efficacy,31 were improved,106 were invalid,and 130 cases that had consciousness recovery to the state of Ⅲ.Conclusions The CNPVSS could reflect the changing processes of patient conditions,having the features of being simple and clear,conforming to clinical practice,and above all being easy to master and operate.With this reason,it could be applied to clinical practice.

Objective Taking sham electroacupuncture as control, to observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture in treating female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Method By using central random design, the eligible subjects were randomized into an electroacupuncture group of 42 cases [electroacupuncture at Zhongliao (BL33) and Huiyang (BL35)] and a sham group of 42 cases [sham electroacupuncture at points beside Zhongliao and Huiyang]. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated by observing the urine leakage volume in the 1-h pad test and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF). Result In the electroacupuncture group, the urine leakage volumes in the 4th, 6th, 20th, and 32nd treatment week were significantly lower than that before treatment (P<0.05);the decreases of urine leakage volume in the electroacupuncture group were more significant than that in the sham group in the 4th, 6th, 20th, and 32nd treatment week (P<0.05). In the electroacupuncture group, the ICIQ-SF scores in the 4th, 6th, 20th, and 32nd treatment week were significantly lower than that before treatment (P<0.05); the ICIQ-SF scores were significantly lower in the electroacupuncture group than in the sham group in the 4th, 6th, 20th, and 32nd treatment week (P<0.05). Conclusion Electroacupuncture can effectively improve urine leakage and other urinary symptoms in SUI.

To obtain a better understanding of the progression of atherosclerosis and identify potential biomarkers, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR)-based metabonomics was used to study the metabolic changes in the plasma of hamster fed with a high-fat/cholesterol diet. Plasma samples were collected at different time points during the progression of atherosclerosis and individual proton NMR spectra were visually and statistically assessed using multivariate analyses. NMR results for all samples showed a time-dependent development from physiological to pathophysiological status during atherosclerosis. Analysis of the identified biomarkers of atherosclerosis suggests that lipid and amino acid metabolisms are significantly disturbed, together with inflammation, oxidative stress, following cholesterol overloading. The results enriched our understanding of the mechanism of atherosclerosis and demonstrated the effectiveness of the NMR-based metabonomics approach to study such a complex disease.

Quorum sensing is an important gene regulatory mechanism in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and controls the expression of numerous virulence factors. We designed and constructed a screening system for quorum-sensing inhibitors. We developed the system by using the lasI and rhlA promoters fused with promoterless sacB as reporters. Using this system we screened a number of Chinese herb extracts, and identified three herb extracts containing inhibitors to the quorum-sensing system and to its regulated genes. The screening system developed was highly efficient and sensitive. It could serve as a useful tool to identify herb compounds that block infections but unlikely render antibiotic resistance in pathogens.
Acanthaceae ; chemistry ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Genes, Reporter ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; drug effects ; genetics ; Quorum Sensing ; drug effects ; Valerianaceae ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the variance of expression of bcl-2 and bax genes in the genesis of gastric carcinoma as well as their relationship. Methods Thirty-five cases of early-stage gastric carcinoma and Twenty-four cases of chronic atrophic gastritis were studied by immunohistochemical method. Results There were no statistical differences of bcl-2 expression levels between gastric carcinoma and atypical hyperplasia or paracancerous intestinalepithelial metaplasia(IEM)(P＞0. 05). There were statistical differences of bcl-2 expression between normal epithelial tissues (or non-cancerous IEM) and the other three groups (P＜0.05),but no statistical difference between the normal epithelial and the non-cancerous IEM group was observed (P＞0. 05). The expressions of bax protein were found in the normal epithelial and the other groups in varying degrees,but there were no statistical differences between either two of the groups (P＞0.05). The bcl-2/bax ratio was higher in early-stage gastric carcinoma,atypical hyperplasia and paracancerous intestinai-metaplasia than in the non-cancerous intestinal-metaplasia (P＜0. 05) and normal epithelial tissues(P＜0. 01). Conclusion The abnormal expression of bcl-2 protein and bax protein ,especially the increased bcl-2/bax ratio, probably play an important role in the course of carcinogenesis of gastric carcinoma.

Objective To study the relation between the trigeminal nerve and the superior cerebellar artery. Methods The authors dissected 20 cadaver skulls (40 sides):we firstly opened the calvaria and cleaned the cerebrum, then opened the tentorium of cerebellum and observed the relation between the trigeminal nerve and the superior cerebellar artery, as well as measured the distance between them, finally inspected the trend of the superior cerebellar artery. Results In the study the nearest blood vessel to the trigeminal nerve was the superior cerebellar artery, with a distance of 0～8 1 mm (mean, 2 19 mm). All the superior cerebellar arteries had rostral and caudal branches. Approximate 47 5% of the superior cerebellar arteries (19/40) crossed with trigeminal nerves, and in 87 5% of the superior cerebellar arteries (35/40) the closest site to the trigeminal nerve was the junction of the main trunk and the rostral or caudal branches. Conclusions The superior cerebella artery usually gives off rostral and caudal trunks. The junction of the main trunk and the rostral or caudal branches is nearest to the trigeminal nerve.