OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical efficacy of the combined application of blistering cupping with thunder-fire moxibustion in treating bronchial asthma of cold-wheezing syndrome, and its influences on airway remodeling, inflammatory factors, lung function, and quality of life on the base of conventional western medicine treatment. METHODS: A total of 76 patients with bronchial asthma of cold-wheezing syndrome were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 38 cases in each group. In the control group, the basic treatment was used, i.e. budesonide formoterol powder inhalation. In the observation group, on the basis of the treatment as the control group, blistering cupping combined with thunder-fire moxibustion was supplemented, Dazhui (GV 14), Danzhong (CV 17) and bilateral Feishu (BL 13), Gaohuang (BL 43), and Zhongfu (LU 1) were selected; blistering cupping was administered once a day and thunder-fire moxibustion was given twice a day. One course of treatment was composed of 7 days in both groups, and 2 courses of treatment were required. Before and after treatment, the airway remodeling indexes (matrix metalloproteinase-9 [MMP-9], tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 [TIMP-1], and transforming growth factor-β1 [TGF-β1]) and inflammatory indexes (interleukin [IL] -1β、IL-25) were detected by using radioimmunoassay in the patients of the two groups. The lung function, traditional Chinese medicine symptom score, and asthma quality of life questionnaire (AQLQ) score were observed in the patients of the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the serum levels of MMP-9, TIMP-1, TGF-β1, IL-1β, IL-25, peak expiratory flow (PEFR), traditional Chinese medicine symptom scores, and AQLQ scores were decreased compared with those before treatment in the patients of the two groups (P<0.05), and the results in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the first second forced expiratory volume (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) were increased compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05), and the results in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION On the basis of the conventional western medicine treatment, the combination of blistering cupping with thunder-fire moxibustion can effectively ameliorate the clinical symptoms of patients, reduce inflammatory levels, inhibit airway remodeling and improve the lung function and quality of life in the patients with bronchial asthma.
Humans ; Airway Remodeling ; Respiratory Sounds ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Moxibustion ; Quality of Life ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; Asthma/therapy*

Objective To explore the features of frontotemporal lobes'resting-state functional connectivity(rsFC)in preschool children with autism spectrum disorders(ASD)based on functional near-infrared spectroscopy(fNIRS)and to explore the possible neurological markers for early identification of ASD.Methods Sixty-three preschool ASD children and 72 typical development(TD)children were enrolled.Selected bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(DLPFC),bilateral premotor cortex(PMC),and bilateral temporal lobe(TL)cortex as the regions of interest(ROI).Changes of Oxyhemoglobin in the 6 ROIs in resting-state were measured by using functional near-infrared spectroscopy(fNIRS).Compared the frontotemporal rsFC strength and calculate the laterality index(LI)between two groups.Results Compared with the TD group,rsFC strength was significantly lower in the ASD group(P<0.05),and the differences existed mainly within the left ROIs(0.21±0.11 vs.0.32±0.18),right ROIs(0.16±0.16 vs.0.30±0.14),bilateral DLPFCs(0.20±0.14 vs.0.39±0.17;0.15±0.13 vs.0.36±0.13),bilateral TLs(0.15±0.14 vs.0.28±0.17;0.14±0.15 vs.0.31±0.17),and between the 10 groups of ROIs-ROIs(including right DLPFC-left DLPFC,right DLPFC-right PMC,right DLPFC-left PMC,right DLPFC-right TL,right DLPFC-left TL,left DLPFC-right PMC,left DLPFC-left PMC,left DLPFC-right TL,left DLPFC-left TL,right TL-left TL).There were a significant differences in the rsFC's laterality index of DLPFC and whole-brain between the two groups(t=2.002,P=0.047;t=3.003,P=0.003),and the ASD group showed left-lateralized connectivity.Conclusion Frontotemporal lobe's resting-state functional connectivity is abnormal in preschool children with ASD,characterized by low short-range functional connectivity of bilateral DLPFCs and TLs,low long-range functional connectivity associated with DLPFCs,and left-lateralized connectivity.

Adult ; CD5 Antigens ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Choristoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Hamartoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; metabolism ; Thymoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Thymus Gland ; pathology ; Thymus Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Thyroidectomy ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate clinicopathologic features of solitary plasmacytoma of bone (SPB) and the role of immuno-phenotype and immunoglobulin gene rearrangement detection in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of SPB.

METHODSA total of 21 cases of SPB were selected during a period from 1990 to 2008. A retrospective clinicopathologic study and immunohistochemistry (EnVision or EliVision methods) of 17 antigens were performed. In addition, universal IgH (FR3A/LJH/VLJH) primers and BIOMED-2 PCR multiplex tubes were used for IgK and IgL rearrangement analysis.

RESULTSThe age of patients ranged from 36 to 72 years with a media of 50 years. Axial skeleton was the most common site of involvement, accounting for 66.7% of the cases (14 of 21), followed by the extremities of 33.3% (7 cases). Low serum level of M-components was found in 5 cases, including two of IgG type (21.4 g/L) and three of IgA type. Clinical manifestations were closely related to the anatomic sites involved, such as pain due to bone destruction, symptoms and signs caused by compression of spinal cord or nerve root, and pathological fracture. All cases presented as a solitary osteolytic lesion. According to the histological grading criteria, grade I tumor was seen in 12 of 21 cases (57.1%). The remaining were grade II (5 cases, 23.8%) and grade III (4 cases, 19.0%). Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells expressed two or more plasma cell antigens, including CD138, CD38 and PC, but no CD19 and CD20. CD79a expression detected in 23.8%(5/21) of the cases. Expression of CD56, CD27 and CD44v6 were 57.1% (12/21), 15.0% (3/20) and 23.8% (5/21), respectively. Follow-up data were available in 12 of the 21 patients (57.1%). Five patients were alive and 7 died. Three patients developed multiple myeloma (MM) and died of the tumor.

CONCLUSIONSSPB is a rare tumor with bone pain as the most common presenting symptom due to bone destruction. The diagnosis of EMP can only be established after exclusion of an extramedullay invasion by MM. Immunophenotype and IgH gene rearrangement analysis play important roles in the diagnosis of SPB.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 ; metabolism ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte, Heavy Chain ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; pathology ; Plasmacytoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Syndecan-1 ; metabolism

Objective To study the distributive characteristics of HLA-A,B,DRBI alleles and haplotypes patients with ALL in southern Chinese Han.Methods The frequencies of HLA-A,B,DRB1alleles and haplotypes were estimated by Expectation-Maximization method based on the genotypes of 572patients with ALL and 5645 unrelated health donors,and then compared by chi-square test.Results The frequencies of HLA-A33(7.15%vs 9.3%,OR=0.73,P＜0.05),B58(5.93%vs 8.75%,OR=0.64,P＜0.05),DRB1*17(5.15%vs 6.30%,OR=0.82,P＜0.05)alleles and HLA-A33-B58-DRB1*17(2.46%vs 4.14%,OB=0.35,P＜0.05)haplotype were significantly lower in ALL patient groups than that in controls.The frequencies of HLA-A3(2.1%vs 1.26%,OR=1.7,P＜0.05),B51(7.25%vs 5.78%,OR=1.3,P＜0.05)and DRB*12 (16.13%vs 12.99%,OR=1.35,P＜0.05)alleles and A2-B51-DRB1*12(1.24%vs.0.89%,OR=1.66,P＜0.05)haplotype were significantly higher in ALL patient groups than that in controls.Conclusion These results indieated that HLA-A33-B58-DRB1*17 haplotype was a associated with a diminished incidence of ALL.and HLA-A3 auele or A2-B51-DRB1*12 haplotype was weakly associated with ALL.

To summarized the experiences from our basic experimental and clinical research on peritoneal dialysis. In the past 16 years, peritoneal fibrosis rat models and rabbit models of peritonitis were first established successfully in our laboratory in China. Peritoneal mesothelial cells were also separated and identificated. Besides, we assessed the biocompatibility of peritoneal dialysis fluid and analyzed the molecular mechanism of peritoneal mesothelial cell injury. We demonstrated the key role of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and peroxisome proliferative activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) in the pathogenesis of peritoneal fibrosis, as well as their regulation of molecular mechanism. Furthermore, we transfected the plasmids encoding TGF-beta1-shRNA or pCTGF-shRNA into peritoneal cells and tissues by nanocarrier technologies. In clinical research, the positioning of peritoneal dialysis catheters, peritoneal dialysis treatment modalities and the prevention and treatment of its complications were studied. The characteristics and mechanism of solute transport in peritoneal dialysis was also explored.
Animals ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Fibrosis ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; metabolism ; therapy ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; methods ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory ; adverse effects ; Peritoneum ; pathology ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Retrospective Studies ; Tissue Adhesions ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism