OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of Tiaoshen Guben holistic therapy of acupuncture and moxibustion (holistic treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion by adjusting the mind and consolidating the root) on comorbidity of depression and insomnia. METHODS: Twenty-four patients with comorbidity of depression and insomnia were included and treated with Tiaoshen Guben holistic therapy of acupuncture and moxibustion. Acupuncture was applied to Baihui (GV20), Guanyuan (CV4), bilateral Neiguan (PC6), etc. The refined moxibustion therapy was delivered at Zhongwan (CV12), Qihai (CV6), bilateral Yongquan (KI1), etc. Subcutaneous embedding therapy with thumb-tack needle was adopted at bilateral Xinshu (BL15), bilateral Pishu (BL20), etc. The intervention was operated once every other day, 3 treatments a week, and for 6 consecutive weeks. Before and after treatment completion, and in 1 month after treatment, Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and Hamilton's depression scale (HAMD-17) were adopted to assess sleep quality and depression symptoms in the patients, respectively. Before and after treatment completion, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the functional connectivity (FC) of locus coeruleus (LC) in brain regions was evaluated; and the levels of serum norepinephrine (NE), cortisol (CORT), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) were detected. RESULTS: Compared with the scores before treatment, PSQI and HAMD-17 scores after treatment completion and in 1 month after treatment were reduced (P<0.01); and strengthened FC was revealed between the right LC and the pars opercularis of the left inferior frontal gyrus, as well as the lateral occipital lobe region. After treatment completion, serum NE was elevated (P<0.01), the levels of CORT, ACTH and CRH were reduced (P<0.01). Before and after treatment completion, the difference in FC between the right LC and the pars opercularis of the left inferior frontal gyrus was negatively correlated with the differences in PSQI score (r = -0.484, P = 0.016) and HAMD-17 score (r = -0.233, P = 0.027). CONCLUSION Tiaoshen Guben holistic therapy of acupuncture and moxibustion can effectively alleviate depression symptoms and improve sleep quality in the patients with comorbidity of depression and insomnia, which is obtained probably through reducing the levels of serum CORT, ACTH and CRH, increasing serum NE, strengthening the FC of the right LC with the pars opercularis of the left inferior frontal gyrus and the lateral occipital lobe region.
Humans ; Moxibustion ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/therapy* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Depression/complications* ; Aged ; Young Adult ; Acupuncture Points ; Comorbidity

Objective: To establish a method for determination of lead and istope ratios in the blood by ISIS-ICP-MS. Methods: After wet digestion, the blood sample was on-line addition of thallium as internal standard and analyzed by ISIS-ICP-MS. Results: The limit of detection was 0.03 μg/L and the lower limit of quantification was 0.08 μg/L. The detection concentration was 0.45 μg/L and the minimum quantitative concentration was 1.49 μg/L. The relative standard deviations (RSD) were 0.3%~1.7%. The recovery was between 91.0% and 103.4%. The precision of the major lead isotope ratios was better than 0.3%. The calibrated isotope ratios of the standard liquid are close to the certificate. Conclusion The method has a low detection limit, good precision and high accuracy, it is feasible for determination of lead concentration and isotope ratios in the bloune.

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with endovascular implantation of iodine-125 seeds in the treatment of primary liver cancer complicated by portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) and its influence on liver function. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 96 patients with primary liver cancer complicated by PVTT who were admitted to Guangzhou No. 12 People's Hospital from January 2013 to December 2016. Among these patients, 52 were treated with TACE combined with endovascular implantation of iodine-125 seeds in the portal vein (combination group) and 44 were treated with TACE alone (control group) . The two groups were compared in terms of the outcome of tumor lesions and PVTT and the changes in related laboratory markers after treatment. The t-test was used for comparison of continuous data between groups, and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. Results Compared with the control group, the combination group had significantly higher remission rates of tumor lesions (59. 62％ vs 38. 64％, χ2= 4. 196, P = 0. 041) and PVTT (80. 77％ vs 59. 09％, χ2=5. 421, P = 0. 020) . At 8 weeks after surgery, the combination group had significantly lower serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), diameter of the main portal vein, and platelet count (PLT) and significantly higher serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin (TBil) than the control group (t = 3. 891, 3. 291, 2. 330, 3. 729, 3. 582, and 4. 126, all P ＜0. 05); both groups showed significant increases in serum levels of ALT, AST, and TBil (all P ＜ 0. 05) and significant reductions in PLT, serum AFP and diameter of the main portal vein (all P ＜ 0. 05) . Conclusion TACE combined with endovascular implantation of iodine-125 seeds in the portal vein has a better clinical effect than TACE alone in the treatment of primary liver cancer complicated by PVTT, but more attention should be paid to liver impairment during treatment.