BACKGROUND: Electroacupuncture (EA) treatment is efficacious in patients with respiratory disorders, although the mechanisms of its action in lung-function protection are poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the neuroanatomical mechanisms of EA stimulation at the BL13 acupoint (Feishu, EA-BL13) improvement in asthma. METHODS: Allergic asthma was induced by intranasal 2.0% ovalbumin (OVA) instillation combined with intraperitoneal injection of the 10.0% OVA. The levels of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Hematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid-schiff stain were used to evaluate inflammatory cell infiltration and mucus secretion. Cellular oncogene fos induction in neurons after EA stimulation was detected by immunofluorescent staining. The messenger RNA expression levels of adrenergic receptors were quantified with real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: EA improved airway inflammation and mucus secretion mainly by activating somatosensory-sympathetic pathways ( P <0.001). Briefly, the intermediolateral (IML) nuclei of the spinal cord received signals from somatic EA stimulation and then delivered the information via the sympathetic trunk to the lung. Excited sympathetic nerve endings in lung tissue released large amounts of catecholamines that specifically activated the β2 adrenergic receptor (β2AR) on T cells ( P <0.01) and further decreased the levels of IL-4 and IL-5 ( P <0.001) through the cyclic adenosine monophosphate/protein kinase A signaling pathway. CONCLUSION This study provided a new explanation and clinical basis for the use of EA-BL13 as a treatment for allergic asthma in both the attack and remission stages and other respiratory disorders related to airway inflammation.
Electroacupuncture/methods* ; Animals ; Asthma/immunology* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Male ; Inflammation/therapy* ; Interleukin-4/metabolism* ; Interleukin-5/metabolism*

Objective To study the clinical significance of apolipoprotein B and apolipoprotein A1 ratio (ApoB/ApoA1) in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) combined metabolic syndrome (MS),by detecting the level of ApoB and ApoA1 in patients' serum.Methods 160 patients with PCOS were selected in our hospital from Jan.2014 to Dec.2015,and they were divided into MS group and non-MS group according to the diagnostic criteria of MS.The anthropometric measurements,endocrine markers,glucose and lipid metabolism indexes of patients in the two groups were measured and compared.Correlation of ApoB/ApoA 1 ratio and components of MS were analyzed,respectively.Relationship between ApoB/ApoA1 ratio and the number of abnormal components in MS were also investigated.Results Significant difference was found in the levels of ApoB ((1.01±0.34) g/L) and ApoA1((1.15±0.29) g/L) between MS group and non-MS group (P＜0.05),and ApoB/ApoA1 ratio in MS group was obviously higher than that in non-MS group (P＜0.05).ApoB/ApoAl ratio was positively correlated with BMI,waist circumference (WC),systolic blood pressure (SBP),diastolic blood pressure (DBP),fasting plasma glucose (FPG),insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR),high triglycerides (TG) and low density lipoprotein (LDL-C),respectively,and it was negatively correlated with high density lipoprotein (HDL-C)(P＜0.05).However,there was no significant correlation between ApoB/ApoA1 ratio and the age,fasting insulin (FINS),as well as the total cholesterol (TC) (P＞0.05).Moreover,ApoB/ApoA1 ratio increased with increase in the number of abnormal components (P＜0.05).Conclusion ApoB/ApoA1 ratio is closely related to the components of MS,and it may have important clinical significance for diagnosis of PCOS combined MS and preventing long-term complications of PCOS.

Objective To evaluate the efficiency of second trimester screenings for Down syndrome using alpha-fetoprotein and β-human chorionic gonadotropin duplex.MethodsPregnant women of south Zhejiang were screened for Down syndrome fetuses by maternal alpha-fetoprotein and β-human chorionic gonadotropin duplex during second trimester.The high-risk women underwent prenatal diagnosis by amniocentesis,cell culture and chromosome analysis.The newborns followed up by the maternal and child tertiary health care network and suspected to have Down syndrome were diagnosed by peripheral blood chromosome analysis.Statistical analysis was performed using two-sample t test and x2 test.Risk probability of Down Syndrome was calculated by random screening software. Results From Oct.2007 to May 2009,1130 of 32 188 singleton pregnant women in second trimester received prenatal screening were discovered with high risk(≥1 ∶ 270).Prenatal diagnosis was performed in 90.79％ cases (1026/1130) of high risk women and seven fetuses were diagnosed as Down syndrome by amniotic fluid chromosome analysis,and the pregnancies were terminated.Among the other 104 cases without prenatal diagnosis one Down syndrome baby was delivered.Six of 31 058 pregnancy women with low risk delivered Down syndrome babies with the incidence of Down syndrome of 0.19‰ (6/31 058).Detection rate of second trimester screenings for Down syndrome using alpha-fetoprotein and β-human chorionic gonadotropin duplex was 57.14％(8/14).False positive rate was 3.48％ (1122/32 188).Positive predictive value was 7.08‰(8/1130).During the same period,there were 23 813 pregnant women who didn't receive screening and 15 fetuses with Down syndrome were diagnosed after birth.There was no statistical difference in the prevalence rate of Down syndrome between those pregnant women who received prenatal screening or not [0.43‰ (14/32 188) vs 0.63‰ (15/23 813),x2 =1.004,P＞0.05].The prevalence of Down syndrome was 0.52‰ (29/56 001) in this area. ConclusionsThe prenatal screening and diagnosis could reduce the birth rate of Down syndrome patients.However,detection rate,false positive rate and positive predictive value of which were lower than reports in other studies.It's possible that the reference data might be not suitable for Chinese.

Objective To investigate the value of hysteroscopy in the diagnosis of postmenopausal uterine bleeding.Methods 106 cases of outpatient of postmenopausal bleeding were analyzed.Hysteroscopic diagnosis and the biopsy result were compared in all patients.Results Histological diagnosis was 73 cases of uterine cavity abnormality,33 cases of normal were diagnosed in hysteroscopy.78 cases of pathological abnormalities,and 28 cases of normal were diagnosed.Comparing to histology, sensitivity was 95.89% ,specificity 84.85% , positive predictive value 93.33% , negative predictive value of 90.32%.Conclusion Hysteroscopy combined pathology was the best method to diagnose postmenopausal uterus bleeding.