ABSTRACT
Objective To study the difference between scattered prick with three-edge needle and tapping prick with plum-blossom needle (seven-star needle) in treating cervical spondylosis of nerve root type by observing the content of serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in patients' peripheral blood. Method Sixty patients with cervical spondylosis of nerve root type were randomized into a three-edge needle group and a plum-blossom needle group. The three-edge needle group was intervened by scattered prick with three-edge needle, while the plum-blossom needle group was intervened by plum-blossom needle. The two groups were treated once a week, for 4 weeks in total. The level of TNF-αin serum of the two groups was measured before and after the treatment, and the clinical efficacies were compared. Result The level of serum TNF-α changed significantly after the treatment in both groups (P<0.05), but there was no significant between-group difference in comparing the level of serum TNF-α after the intervention (P>0.05). The between-group difference in the clinical efficacy was statistically insignificant (P>0.05). Conclusion Both three-edge needle and plum-blossom needle can significantly down-regulate the content of serum TNF-α in peripheral blood, and there is no noticeable difference between the two methods.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish strategies for preventing graft versus host disease (GVHD) and reducing treatment associated morbidity while preserving graft versus leukemia (GVL) effect in nonmyeloablative allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT), with or without donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) after BMT.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>3 x 10(7) bone marrow cells mixed with 1 x 10(7) spleen cells from the same BALB/c mouse were transplanted into the nonablative irradiated inbred 615 mouse which received a single subcutaneous injection of 1 x 10(6) L615 leukemia cells three days before. The experiments were designed as follows (ten mice in each group): myeloablative BMT control group (group A), nonmyeloablative conditioning without BMT group (group B), nonmyeloablative BMT group (group C), and nonmyeloablative BMT + DLI group (group D). GVL effects were assessed by survival time, white blood cell count and L615 cells in peripheral blood and histologic changes. GVHD was assessed by signs of weight loss, ruffled fur, diarrhea and histologic changes of skin, liver and small intestines. Chimerism was detected by cytogenetic analysis and PCR technique.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The survival time of group A, B, C and D was (20.3 +/- 13.4), (15.9 +/- 1.1), (21.6 +/- 1.7) and (37.8 +/- 2.0) days, respectively, being no significant difference between group A and group C (P > 0.05). The survival time of group C was longer than that of group B (P < 0.01). And among group B, C and D, group D had the longest survival time (P < 0.01). GVHD signs and histologic changes were observed in 60% of control group mice at + 14 day, but none of group C and group D. 40% of mice in group A died of treatment associated morbidity within two weeks, but none in group C and group D. Allogeneic chimerism was kept in group A, but excluded gradually in group C.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>GVL effect seems preserved in nonmyeloablative BMT mice, but weaker than that in myeloablative BMT mice. GVL effect seems to be enhanced by DLI after nonmyeloablative BMT. GVHD and transplantation associated morbidity seems to be reduced in nonmyeloablative BMT.</p>