OBJECTIVE: To observe the skin surface temperature at the related back-shu points in the patients with the different levels of pulmonary ventilation function in chronic persistent asthma, and to explore the correlation between the skin temperature at the back-shu points and pulmonary ventilation function indexes based on "lung governing the skin and hair". METHODS: Sixty-one patients with chronic persistent asthma, based on the level of pulmonary ventilation function, were assigned into a reduced pulmonary ventilation function group (reduced function group, 32 cases) and a normal pulmonary ventilation function group (normal function group, 29 cases). In the two groups, the skin surface temperature was measured in the sites of bilateral Feishu (BL13), Geshu (BL17), Pishu (BL20) and Shenshu (BL23); and the pulmonary ventilation function indexes (the percentage of predicted value of forced vital capacity [FVC%pred], the percentage of predicted value of forced expiratory volume in the first second [FEV1%pred], the percentage of predicted value of FEV1/FVC [FEV1/FVC%pred] and the percentage of predicted value of the peak expiratory flow [PEF%pred]) were recorded. The correlation between the skin surface temperature of acupoints and pulmonary ventilation function was analyzed. RESULTS: Compared with the normal function group, the surface skin temperature at the bilateral Feishu (BL13), Geshu (BL17), Pishu (BL20) and Shenshu (BL23) was higher in the reduced function group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the normal function group, FEV1%pred, FEV1/FVC%pred and PEF%pred were decreased in the reduced function group (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in FVC%pred between the two groups (P>0.05). The skin surface temperature at the bilateral Feishu (BL13), Geshu (BL17), Pishu (BL20) and Shenshu (BL23) was negatively correlated with FVC%pred, FEV1%pred, FEV1/FVC%pred and PEF%pred in 61 patients with chronic persistent asthma (P<0.001, P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION The skin surface temperature at back-shu points is elevated in line with the the decline of pulmonary ventilation function in the patients with chronic persistent asthma, presenting a negative correlation with pulmonary ventilation function indexes. It is preliminarily verified that back-shu point is characterized by reflecting the visceral disorders.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Asthma/therapy* ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Skin Temperature ; Lung/physiopathology* ; Acupuncture Points ; Pulmonary Ventilation ; Aged ; Chronic Disease/therapy* ; Young Adult ; Hair

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of thumbtack-needle embedding therapy of auricular acupuncture on gastrointestinal function and intestinal microflora in the patients with gastric cancer after operation, and to explore its mechanism. METHODS: A total of 80 patients with gastric cancer after radical operation were randomly divided into an observation group (40 cases, 3 cases discontinued) and a control group (40 cases, 3 cases discontinued). The patients of both groups received the perioperative care for accelerating recovery. Additionally, in the observation group, the thumbtack-needle embedding therapy of auricular acupuncture was delivered at the auricular points of unilateral side, including Wei (CO₄), Pi (CO₁₃), Dachang (CO₇), Xiaochang (CO₆), Yuanzhong (AT_2,3,4i), Erzhong (HX₁), Sanjiao (CO₁₇) and Jiaowozhong (TF₃), and the needles were embedded and retained for 72 h. The postoperative recovery time of gastrointestinal function (the postoperative bowel sound recovery time, the first exhaust time, the first defecation time), the postoperative hospital stay and pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score were observed in the two groups. Before operation and on day 5 after operation, the serum gastrin level was detected in the two groups. The third-generation 16S rRNA sequencing technology was used to detect the composition and relative abundance of intestinal flora in the two groups before and after operation. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the postoperative bowel sound recovery time, the first exhaust time and the first defecation time were shortened in the observation group (P<0.05). In the observation group, the VAS scores at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after surgery were lower than those of the control group, respectively (P<0.05). There was no significant differences in postoperative hospital stay and serum gastrin level between the two groups (P>0.05). The alpha diversity analysis showed that the differences in Shannon index, Simpson index, Pielou_J index and Pd_fath index were not significant statistically after intervention between the two groups (P>0.05). After intervention, the community structure of the fecal sample was similar at each taxonomic level between the two groups, and although the proportion between species was various, the difference was not significant (P>0.05). After intervention, there were 55 species with the differences between the two groups, 17 species of them presented significant difference in relative abundance in the observation group and 38 species in the control group. Regarding the level of genus, the levels of Klebsiell and Enterobacter increased (P<0.05) and the level of Streptococcus decreased (P<0.05) in the observation group. The main microbial groups that played an important role were Coprobacillaceae, Sutterellaceae and Yersiniaceae in the observation group. KEGG function prediction indicated that the function of intestinal microflora was mainly associated with the cofactor and vitamin metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and amino acid metabolism. CONCLUSION The thumbtack-needle embedding therapy of auricular acupuncture improves the postoperative gastrointestinal function of the patients with gastric cancer probably through regulating the structure and relative abundance of intestinal microflora and affecting the energy metabolism.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Acupuncture, Ear/instrumentation* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Aged ; Stomach Neoplasms/therapy* ; Adult ; Acupuncture Points ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology* ; Intestines/physiopathology* ; Postoperative Period ; Acupuncture Therapy

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a very important pathogen, especially for children.On a global scale, GAS is an important cause of morbidity and mortality.But the burden of disease caused by GAS is still unknown in China and also has not obtained enough attention.For this purpose, the expert consensus is comprehensively described in diagnosis, treatment and prevention of GAS diseases in children, covering related aspects of pneumology, infectiology, immunology, microbiology, cardiology, nephrology, critical care medicine and preventive medicine.Accordingly, the consensus document was intended to improve management strategies of GAS disease in Chinese children.

Objective: To comprehensively understand the disinfection quality of secondary and primary schools and kindergartens in Wuxi, so as to find out problems and to provide advice for improvement. Methods: Stratified random sampling method was applied in the investigation to select 73 schools and classes. The qualities of room air, surface of object, hand hygiene of staff, tableware, ultraviolet lamp and disinfectant in use (including bacterial contamination and concentration of chlorine-containing) were all tested. Results: A total of 2 563 samples were collected with the total disinfection qualified rate 88.02%. The qualified rates of kindergarten, primary and secondary schools were 87.89%, 90.67% and 85.83% respectively. The rates of Xishan and Jiangyin districts were 75.24% and 75.89% respectively. The quality of urban schools was better than the rural(χ 2=16.57, P<0.01). There was no statistical significance between public and private schools (χ 2=0.01, P=0.92). The rank of qualified rates of different objects was: bacterial contamination (100.00%) > room air (93.13%) > tableware (91.87%) > surface of object (89.40%) > ultraviolet lamp (84.00%) > concentration of chlorine-containing (73.68%) > hand hygiene of staff (73.53%). The quality of secondary schools was lower than kindergartens and primary schools in the aspects of room air and surface of object. Conclusion The disinfection quality of secondary and primary schools and kindergartens in Wuxi is good in general. More attention should be paid on hand hygiene, concentration of chlorine-containing and ultraviolet lamp. The qualities of room air and surface of object of secondary schools need to be improved.

OBJECTIVE：To study the effects of stilbene glucoside （TSG）on the proliferation and estrogen receptor （ER）of human breast cancer T- 47D cells ，and to explore its estrogen-like effect and potential mechanism. METHODS ：Taking ER positive human breast cancer T- 47D cells as subjects ，using β-estradiol（β-E2，1×10－8 mol/L）as positive control ，CCK-8 assay was used to detect the cell proliferation after treated with different concentrations of TSG （1×10－8，1×10－7，1×10－6，1×10－5，1×10－4 mol/L）for 24，48，72 h；the cell proliferation rate was calculated. Western blotting assay and RT-PCR methods were adopted to detect the protein and mRNA expression of ER-α and ER-β in cells after treated with low，medium and high concentrations of TSG （1×10－8， 1×10－6，1×10－4 mol/L）for 48 h. RESULTS ：After treated with different concentrations of TSG for 24，48，72 h，the cell proliferation rate of each administration group at each time point （except for β-E2 group at 48 h）increased significantly ，compared with blank group ；those of TSG groups （1×10－5，1×10－6，1×10－7 mol/L）were significantly higher than β-E2 group（P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. After treated with low ，medium and high concentrations of TSG for 48 h，protein and mRNA expression of ER-α and ER-β in cells were increased significantly，compared with blank group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）；protein expression of ER-β in TSG low concentration group ，mRNA expression of ER-α in TSG groups as well as mRNA expression of ER-β in TSG low and high concentration groups were significantly higher than β-E2 group（P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS ：TSG can induce the in vitro proliferation of T- 47D cells and exert estrogen-like effects by promoting protein and mRNA expression of ER-α and ER-β， which is stronger than that of β-E2 at a certain concentration.

OBJECTIVE： To study the effects of processed Polygonum multiflorum containing serum on the proliferation and the expression of estrogen receptor （ER） of human breast cancer T-47D cells， and to investigate its phytoestrogen （PE）-like effect. METHODS： Sexually immature SD rats were randomly divided into estradiol valerate （Ev） group （positive control， 0.12 mg/kg）， processed P. multiflorum low-dose and high-dose groups （0.75， 3 g/kg， by crude drug）， low-dose and high-dose processed P. multiflorum+Ev groups （same dose as single drug group）， with 10 rats in each group. Blank group was given constant volume of water intragastrically， and administration groups were given relevant medicine intragastrically； once day and night， for consecutive 4 days. Two hours after last administration， blank serum and containing serum were prepared. T-47D cells were also randomly divided into blank group， Ev group， low-dose and high-dose processed P. multiflorum groups， low-dose and high-dose processed P. multiflorum+Ev groups， and then were cultured in medium which contained 20％ blank serum or drug containing serum. CCK-8 assay was used to detect proliferation rate （PR）. Western blotting assay and RT-PCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA expression of ER-α and ER-β. RESULTS： Compared with blank group， PR of administration groups [each administration group （24 h）， other administration groups （48， 72 h） except for high-dose processed P. multiflorum+Ev group] were increased significantly； high-dose processed P. multiflorum group （72 h） was significantly higher than Ev group， and low-dose processed P. multiflorum+Ev group （72 h） was significantly higher than the same-dose processed P. multiflorum group； high-dose processed P. multiflorum+Ev group （72 h） was significantly lower than the same-dose processed P. multiflorum group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Relative protein expression of ER-α in Ev group， high-dose processed P. multiflorum group and low-dose processed P. multiflorum+Ev group， relative mRNA expression of ER-α and protein expression of ER-β in administration groups， relative mRNA expression of ER-β in Ev group， low-dose processed P. multiflorum group and processed P. multiflorum+Ev groups were all increased significantly. Relative protein and mRNA expression of ER-α in Ev group were significantly higher than processed P. multiflorum groups and combination groups. Relative protein and mRNA expression of ER-β in Ev group were significantly lower than low-dose processed P. multiflorum+Ev group， but relative mRNA expression of ER-β was significantly higher than processed P. multiflorum groups and high-dose processed P. multiflorum+Ev group. Relative protein and mRNA expression of ER-α and ER-β in low-dose processed P. multiflorum+Ev group as well as relative mRNA expression of ER-β in high-dose processed P. multiflorum+Ev group were significantly higher than the same-dose processed P. multiflorum group. Relative protein and mRNA expression of ER-α in high-dose processed P. multiflorum+Ev group were significantly lower than the same-dose processed P. multiflorum group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS： The processed P. multiflorum containing serum can promote the proliferation of human breast cancer T-47D cells， and play the PE-like role through promoting protein and mRNA expression of ER-α and ER-β. However， the above effects are weaker than estrogen， and the combination of the two may antagonize the effect of estrogen.

OBJECTIVE： To investigate estrogen-like effect of tetrahydroxy stilbene glucoside （TSG） and its effects on the expression of estrogen receptor （ER） in uterus of sexually immature mice. METHODS： Totally 60 sexually immature Kunming mice were randomly divided into normal group， positive control group （estradiol valerate， 0.18 mg/kg）， TSG low-dose and high-dose groups （50， 150 mg/kg）， TSG low-dose and high-dose groups+estradiol valerate groups （same dose as medication alone group）. Normal group was given constant volume of water intragastrically， and administration groups were given relevant medicine 0.2    mL/10 g， once morning and night， for consecutive 5 d. The uterus index and body weight increase of mice in each group were determined and calculated the next day after the last administration. The contents of serum estrogen （E2， LH， FSH） were determined by ELISA. HE staining was used to observe the morphology characteristics of uterus， and uterine tube diameter and endometrial thickness were detected. The expression of ER（ER-α and ER-β） in uterus was detected by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS： The myometrium of the mice in normal group was parallel and compact， the epithelium of the uterus was columnar， and the expression of ER-α and ER-β was low. The uterine tube diameter， endometrium and epithelium of mice in each administration group increased， thickened or proliferated in varying degrees， and the expression of ER-α and ER-β changed. Compared with normal group， uterus indexes （positive control group， TSG high-dose group， TSG+estradiol valerate groups）， the increase of body weight （positive control group， TSG high-dose groups， TSG low-dose+estradiol valerate group）， uterine tube diameter and endometrial thickness （positive control group， TSG low-dose group， TSG+estradiol valerate groups）， the expression of ER-α （positive control group， TSG+estradiol valerate groups） and the expression of ER-β （postive control group， TSG high-dose+estradiol valerate group）were increased significantly， while serum contents of LH （positive control group， TSG high-dose group） and FSH （TSG low-dose+estradiol valerate group） were decreased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. The uterus index， uterine tube diameter， endometrial thickness and the expression in ER-α and ER-β of TSG+estradiol valerate groups， the increase of body weight and serum content of E2 in TSG low-dose+estradiol valerate group were significantly higher than same TSG dose alone groups （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. The uterus index， uterine tube diameter， endometrial thickness and the expression of ER-α and ER-β in TSG groups， uterine tube diameter and the expression of ER-β in TSG+estradiol valerate groups， body weight increase of mice in TSG low-dose group were significantly lower than positive control group， while serum content of LH in TSG+estradiol valerate groups were significantly higher than positive control group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS： TSG can increase uterus indexes and body weight of sexually immature mice to certain extent， regulate estrogen level， increase the diameter of uterine tube and endometrial thickness and up-regulate the expression of ER in the uterus， showing certain estrogen-like effect， which is weaker than that of estradiol valerate. Combined use of them may antagonize the effect of estradiol valerate.

OBJECTIVETo study the primary and secondary factors of the allergic history, the frequency of acupoint application and the time of acupoint application in the treatment of bronchial asthma and optimize its scheme.

METHODSEighty patients of bronchial asthma were selected as the subjects in the orthogonal trial. The herbal medicines were the empirical formula of acupoint application (prepared at the ratio as 2:2:1:1:1:1:1:1:1 of,, unprocessed,,,,,and) and used on bilateral Feishu (BL 13), Xinshu (BL 15), Geshu (BL 17) and Shenshu (BL 23). Firstly, two groups were divided according to allergic history (40 cases with allergic history and 40 cases without allergic history), and then four subgroups were divided on the basis of the two main groups, 10 cases in each one. Through studying three factors and two levels, i.e. allergic history (Factor A:A:with allergic history; A:without allergic history), the frequency of acupoint application (Factor B:B:4 times; B:10 times, in which, in the group of 4-time applications, the application was given once every 10 days; in the group of 10-time applications, the application was given once every 4 days); and the time of application (Factor C:C:4 h; C:8 h), the optimal scheme was screened on the basis of the attack frequency before and after treatment and the score of the asthma quality life questionnaire (AQLQ) before treatment and 6 months after treatment in the patients of each group.

RESULTS① The orthogonal trial indicated that the best optimal scheme was ABC, meaning the patients with allergic history were treated with acupoint application for 10 times, remained for 4 h. ②Factor B (frequency of acupoint application) and C (time of acpoint application) were the significant influential factors of AQLQ scores (both<0.05). ③The comparison of the attack frequency and AQLQ score before and after treatment in all of the patients showed that the different combinations of factor levels induced the different impacts on the asthma attack frequency and AQLQ scores. Except in the group No.1 and the group No.5, the improvements were all significant in the rest groups, indicating the significant differences (<0.05,<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSAcupoint application reduces apparently the attack frequency of asthma in the patients and improves the living quality. The primary and secondary relationship among the allergic history, the frequency of acupoint application and the time of acupoint application for the impacts on the therapeutic effects are:the frequency of acupoint application > the time of acupoint application > the allergic history. The best optimal scheme is ABC, meaning the patients with allergic history are treated with acupoint application for 10 times, remained for 4h.

Objective: To assess blood levels of renal function related influencing factors with baseline clinical parameters for predicting the risk of 8-year survival in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods: A total of 293 CHF patients admitted in our hospital from 2006-07 to 2009-11 were enrolled. The patients were followed-up until 2014-6-30, the end point was death. According to followed-up results, they were divided into 2 groups: Survival group,n=107 and Death group,n=186. All patients received routine renal function and electrolytes examination including blood levels of urea nitrogen, creatinine, uric acid, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, anion gap and phosphorus; GFR was calculated by MDRD formula. Baseline clinical parameters as left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were measured by echocardiography; blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded. The risk factors for 8-year survival in CHF patients were analyzed. Results: Compared with Survival group, Death group had increased LVEDD, urea nitrogen, creatinine and uric acid, while decreased LVEF, HR, GFR, blood sodium and calcium, allP<0.05. Univariate analysis indicated that LVEDD, LVEF, GFR, urea nitrogen, creatinine, uric acid, blood sodium, calcium and phosphorus had the better predictive value for the risk of 8-year survival in CHF patients, allP<0.05. Multivariate analysis presented that LVEDD, GFR and blood sodium had the highest predictive value for the risk of 8-year survival, allP<0.001; the next one was blood calcium,P<0.01. Conclusion: LVEDD, GFR, blood sodium and calcium were the independent predictors for the risk of 8-year survival in CHF patients.

Objective: To investigate the effects of miR-24 on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene expression with regulation and endothelial cell proliferation, migration, tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Methods: Constructed high expression plasmid of miR-24 and miR-24 antisense sequence were introduced into HUVECs and the cells included in 3 groups: Control group, miR-24 group and miR-24 inhibitor group. HUVEC proliferation was detected by MTT test, migration was measured by Scratching and Transwell methods, tube formation was examined by Matrigel assay; mRNA and protein expressions of eNOS and Sp1were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis respectively. Results:①Compared with Control group, miR-24 group had decreased cell proliferation by 45.45% as (0.36 ± 0.04) vs (0.66 ± 0.08),P<0.05; miR-24 group had lower speed of cell migration, decreased number of cell migration by 74.75% as (30.25±3.78) vs (119.80±10.94),P<0.01 and there was no obvious tube formation.②Compared with Control group, miR-24 group showed reduced eNOS mRNA expression by 46.2% as (0.49±0.02) vs (0.91±0.01),P<0.05, reduced protein expression by 49.07% as (0.55±0.05) vs (1.08±0.05),P<0.05; meanwhile, decreased Sp1 mRNA expression by 44.9% as (0.49±0. 01) vs (0. 89±0.02)P<0.05, decreased protein expression by 54.90% as (0.46±0.02) vs (1.02±0.04),P<0.05. In miR-24 inhibitor group, the above indexes were lower than Control group but higher than miR-24 group, the amount of tube formation and the length of tubes were similar between Control group and miR-24 inhibitor group. Conclusion: MiR-24 may inhibit HUVECs proliferation, migration, tube formation and suppress eNOS expression; Sp1 might be one of the important regulators.