Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)sequential therapy in treating patients with psoriasis vulgaris in Shenzhen,and to explore the syndrome differentiation and treatment for the patients with psoriasis vulgaris in Shenzhen region.Methods From January 2019 to February 2024,70 cases of psoriasis vulgaris admitted to Shenzhen Bao'an Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine(Shenzhen Bao'an Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Group)were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into the observation group(39 cases)and the control group(31 cases)according to the treatment plans.In the control group,only topical application of Calcipotriol Ointment was given throughout the treatment,while in the observation group the patients were treated with TCM sequential therapy according to the illness stage on the basis of treatment for the control group,i.e.,internal administration of modified Shuiniujiao Huanglian Decoction was given in the acute stage and modified Sijunzi Shuiniujiao Decoction was given in the remission stage.Both groups were treated for 3 months.Before and after the treatment,the changes of Psoriasis Area and Severity Index(PASI)scores,Dermatology Life Quality Index(DLQI)scores and TCM syndrome scores in the two groups were observed.After treatment,the clinical efficacy and drug safety of the two groups were evaluated.Results(1)After 3 months of treatment,the total effective rate of the observation group was 89.74%(35/39),and that of the control group was 74.19%(23/31).The intergroup comparison(tested by chi-square test)showed that the efficacy of the observation group was significantly superior to that of the control group(P＜0.05).(2)After treatment,the PASI scores for evaluating the severity of skin lesions in the two groups were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.05).(3)After treatment,the DLQI scores for evaluating the quality of life in the two groups were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.05).(4)After treatment,the scores of TCM syndromes such as erythema,itching,vexation and dry mouth in the two groups were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.05).(5)During the treatment period,no obvious adverse reactions occurred in the two groups of patients,with high safety.Conclusion On the basis of conventional western medicine treatment,application of TCM sequential therapy exerts certain clinical efficacy in treating patients with psoriasis vulgaris in Shenzhen region,and the combined therapy is effective on controlling the patients'illness conditions,significantly alleviating the symptoms and improving the quality of life of the patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between smoking status and carotid plaque in rural population residing in Eastern part of China.

METHODSBetween July and September of 2013, an epidemiological survey was carried out in residents aged 40 or above men who were enrolled randomly in rural areas of Anqing, Anhui province and Lianyungang, Jiangsu province. The data on epidemiological characteristics including smoking status, physical examination were collected using standardized protocol, and carotid ultrasonography was applied to examine the incidence of carotid plaque among never smokers, former smokers and current smokers. Logistic regress analysis was performed to determine the effect of smoking on carotid plaque.

RESULTSIn the study, a total of 625 male participants were included in the study. 51.4% (321 cases) were current smokers, 21.3% (133 cases) were former smokers, and 27.4% (171 cases) were never smokers. 32.0% (200/625) had carotid plaque. The incidence of carotid plaques was significantly higher in current smokers (35.2%, 113/321) than that in never smokers(23.4%,40/171) (χ(2) = 7.26, P = 0.007) and the incidence in former smokers (35.3%, 47/133) was also higher than that in never smokers (23.4%, 40/171) (χ(2) = 5.23, P = 0.022). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that current cigarette smoking is significantly associated with the increased risk of carotid plaque (OR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.13-2.98, P = 0.014) in comparison with never smokers, and there was an interaction between current smoking and age in association with carotid plaque. Compared with the young (≤60 years old) and never smoking group (8%, 3/40), prevalence of carotid plaque among the elderly (>70 years old) and smoking group (55%, 31/56) was significantly higher (OR = 8.06, 95% CI: 2.07-31.45) after adjusting for age, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride high-density lipoprotein, body mass index, drinking and regional differences.

CONCLUSIONIt found that cigarette smoking was associated with increased risk of carotid plaque in rural elderly population residing in Eastern part of China.

Aged ; Alcohol Drinking ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Carotid Stenosis ; China ; Cholesterol ; Humans ; Lipoproteins, HDL ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Rural Population ; Smoking ; Triglycerides

Objective To investigate the efficacy of transverse insertion of thick needles into the Du meridian in treating rat ischemic facial paralysis and preliminarily explore the possible mechanism by which it produces a therapeutic effect. Methods Sixty Wistar rats were randomly allocated to groups A (transverse insertion of thick needles), B (basic Western drugs), C (blank control) and D (sham operation), 15 rats each. A rat model of ischemic facial paralysis was made using a modified vascular occlusion method in all the rats. Facial nerve deficits were scored in every group of rats during treatment. At 1 day after model making, group A was treated by transverse insertion into point Shendao and 4-hour retention of needle, once daily, for a total of 14 days; group B was treated by an oral gavage of prednisone and intraperitoneal injection of vitamine B12, once daily, for a total of 14 days. Groups C and D were not treated. In 4 rats randomly chosen at 3, 7 or 14 days after model making, facial nerve concomitant intrinsic vascular tissue HIF-1αprotein was measured by an immunohistochemical method; serum NO, by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; serum ET content, by radioimmunoassay.Results After 7 days of treatment, the neurological deficit score increased gradually in groups A and B and there was a statistically significant difference compared with after model making in the two groups (P<0.01). After 7 days of treatment, there was a statistically significant difference in the neurological deficit score in groups A and B compared with groups C and D (P<0.05) and between groups C and D (P<0.05). After 14 days of treatment, there was a statistically significant difference in the neurological deficit score between group A or B and group C (P<0.05) and between group B or C and group D (P<0.05). In group A, there was a statistically significant difference in the neurological deficit score after 14 days of treatment compared with after 7 days of treatment (P<0.05). After 3, 7 and 14 days of treatment, there was a statistically significant difference in HIF-1αMOD value in groups A , B and C compared with group D (P<0.01). After 3 and 7 days of treatment, there was a statistically significant difference in HIF-1αMOD value between group A or B and group C (P<0.05). In groups A and B, there was a statistically significant difference in HIF-1αMOD value after 3 and 14 days of treatment compared with after 7 days of treatment (P<0.05). After 3 and 7 days of treatment, there was a statistically significant difference in serum NO content between group A or B and group D (P<0.01). In groups A and B, there was a statistically significant difference in serum NO content after 7 days of treatment compared with after 3 days of treatment (P<0.05). After 3 and 7 days of treatment, there was a statistically significant difference in serum ET content in groups A , B and C compared with group D (P<0.05). In groups A and B, there was a statistically significant difference in serum ET content after 7 days of treatment compared with after 3 days of treatment (P<0.05).Conclusions Transverse insertion of thick needles into the Du meridian can effectively promote rat’s recovery from ischemic facial paralysis. The mechanism by which it produces a therapeutic effect may be regulating the expression of tissue HIF-1α and the NO and ET contents of serum.