Clinical observation on electroacupuncture treatment of 30 cases of chronic hepatitis B.

OBJECTIVE: To probe into the methods and therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on hepatitis B. METHODS: 60 hospitalized cases of mild or moderate hepatitis B were randomly divided into a treatment group (30 cases) and a control group (30 cases). EA was applied at the points selected according to the differentiation of symptoms and signs. The treatment was given once daily for 30 minutes, and 2 weeks of treatments constituted a therapeutic course, with 2-3 courses on average in the treatment group. Conventional treatment for liver protection was given in the control group. RESULTS: As compared with the control group, the duration of the treatment for recovery of the hepatic functions was significantly shorter, and the IL-8 level significantly lower in the treatment group. CONCLUSION: In treating hepatitis B, EA is effective in improving symptoms, recovering hepatic functions, and regulating immune functions to certain extent.

Effect of activated autologous monocytes/macrophages on wound healing in a rodent model of experimental diabetes.

AIM: We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the application of activated autologous monocytes/macrophages (Mo/Mp) on wound healing in diabetic rats. METHODS: Sixty male SD rats were equally divided into the following: control group (normal, nondiabetic), PBS-treated diabetic group, and tumor necrotic factor alpha (TNF-α) plus interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-stimulated or unstimulated Mo/Mp-treated diabetic group. Full-thickness round wounds (1cm×1cm) were created in the right hind foot of rats and the wounds were treated with PBS or Mo/Mp on day 1 after injury. In the following 14 days, the percentage of wound contraction was measured, histologic examination was performed with hematoxylin and eosin staining, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the wound was evaluated by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Diabetic rats exhibited impaired wound healing with delayed angiogenesis and VEGF expression. The early application of TNF-α plus IFN-γ-stimulated autologous Mo/Mp to diabetic wounds significantly improved the delayed wound healing through the stimulation of angiogenesis and re-epithelization, as well as restoring the defect in VEGF expression. CONCLUSIONS: Mo/Mp activated by TNF-α and IFN-γ promotes diabetic wound healing and normalizes the defect in VEGF regulation associated with diabetes-induced skin-repair disorders.