[Jianpi Peiyuan acupoint thread embedding therapy for perimenopausal obesity: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Jianpi Peiyuan acupoint thread embedding therapy on perimenopausal obesity (PMO). METHODS: Ninety-six patients of PMO were randomly divided into an observation group (48 cases) and a control group (48 cases). The control group received health education and lifestyle intervention. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, the observation group was treated with acupoint thread embedding at the main acupoints of Shangwan (CV 13), Zhongwan (CV 12), Xiawan (CV 10), Yinlingquan (SP 9) and Fenglong (ST 40), etc. as well as the supplementary acupoints in accordance with the syndrome differentiation, once every 2 weeks for 8 weeks (4 times in total). The indexes of obesity (body mass index [BMI], waist circumference, hip circumference and body mass), modified Kupperman score, insomnia severity index (ISI) score, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) score, and self-rating depression scale (SDS) score of the two groups were observed before and after treatment, and the safety was evaluated. RESULTS: After treatment, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference and body mass in the two groups were lower than before treatment (P<0.05), and those in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, Kupperman, ISI and SAS scores in the observation group were lower than before treatment (P<0.05), and ISI score in the control group was lower than before treatment (P<0.05). Kupperman, ISI and SAS scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in SDS between the two groups or within groups (P>0.05). No serious adverse reactions occurred during the experiment. CONCLUSION: Jianpi Peiyuan acupoint thread embedding therapy can reduce the degree of obesity in PMO patients, and improve patients' the perimenopausal symptoms, insomnia and anxiety, with good safety.

Association of selenoprotein S gene polymorphism with ischemic stroke in a Chinese case-control study.

Previous studies showed that selenoprotein S (SELS) was associated with a range of inflammatory markers, and its gene expression was influenced by a polymorphism in the promoter region. The genetic basis of the ischemic stroke has now been largely determined, so the aim of the study was to examine the role of SELS genetic variants in the ischemic stroke risk in a Chinese population. We conducted a case-control study with 239 ischemic stroke patients and 240 controls. Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in SELS genes were analyzed for association with the risk of ischemic stroke in the Chinese Han population. No evidence of ischemic stroke association was observed with the SNP rs34713741. Interestingly, the strongest evidence showed that SELS SNP rs4965814 was associated with ischemic stroke (P < 0.05). We found a significant association with increased ischemic stroke risk in women carrying the CC genotype of rs4965814 [hazard ratio: 2.43(1.03-5.75)]; a similar trend was also found in men carrying the TC genotype of rs4965814 [hazard ratio: 1.81(1.06-3.08)]. SNP rs4965814 of SELS may affect the susceptibility to ischemic stroke. Understanding the inflammatory mechanisms of ischemic stroke may give new therapeutic targets to pharmacologists.

[DNA methylation of microRNA-34b/c and microRNA-124a in gastric cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of DNA methylation of microRNA (miRNA) gene on their expressions in patients with gastric carcinoma. METHODS: A total of 80 subjects were divided into gastric carcinoma group (n = 40) and control group (n = 40). The DNA methylation status of miRNA-34b/c and miRNA-124a gene promoters was detected by DNA methylation specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) in gastric carcinoma tissues and normal mucosal tissues. RESULTS: The positive rate of DNA methylation of miRNA-34b/c gene promoter was 77.5% (31/40) and 5.0% (2/40) in gastric carcinoma and control groups respectively. There was statistically significant difference between two groups (P < 0.05). The positive rate of DNA methylation of miRNA-124a gene promoter was 60.0% (24/40) and 0 in these two groups respectively. There was statistically significant difference between two groups (P < 0.05). Also the hypermethylation positivity of gene promoter of miRNAs was correlated with the clinicopathological features of gastric carcinoma. CONCLUSION: The hypermethylation of miRNA-34b/c and miRNA-124a gene promoters may play a crucial role in the occurrence and development of gastric carcinoma.