Acupuncture combined with acupoint catgut embedding sequential therapy for mild and moderate ulcerative colitis / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the efficacy of acupuncture combined with acupoint catgut embedding sequential therapy and medication for mild and moderate ulcerative colitis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty patients were randomized into an acupuncture and acupoint catgut embedding sequential therapy group (a combination group) and a mesalazine group, 60 cases in each one. Fifty-seven cases in the combination group and 55 cases in the mesalazine group were included into analysis. In the combination group, acupuncture was applied at Tianshu (ST 25), Shangjuxu (ST 37), Quchi (LI 11) during the activity period, and acupoint catgut embedding was applied at Pishu (BL 20), Zusanli (ST 36), Guanyuan (CV 4) during the alleviate period. The patients in the mesalazine group were treated with mesalazine orally. The treatment was given for 12 weeks. The scores of TCM symptoms, colonoscopy, mucosa healing rate were compared before and after treatment in the two groups. The effects, adverse reactions and the recurrent rates during 1-year follow-up were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, the scores of TCM symptoms decreased in the two groups (both <0.05), and the result in the combination group was better than that in the mesalazine group (<0.05). The total effective rate in the combination group was 87.7% (50/57), which was better than 70.9% (39/55) in the mesalazine group (<0.05). The colonoscopy scores decreased after treatment in the two groups (both <0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups on colonoscopy score and mucosal healing rate [50.9% (29/57) vs 34.5% (19/55), both >0.05]. The recurrent rate in the combination group was 8.5% (4/47)，which was lower than 32.4% (11/34) in the mesalazine group (<0.05). No severe adverse reaction was found during the treatment in the two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture combined with acupoint catgut embedding sequential therapy can improve mild and moderate ulcerative colitis and reduce the recurrent rate.</p>

Clinical observation of electroacupuncture combined with auricular point sticking therapy for anal pain of mixed hemorrhoid after external excision and internal ligation / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>On the basis of western medication, to investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) combined with auricular point sticking therapy for anal pain of mixed hemorrhoid after external excision and internal ligation，so as to explore the method of improving its effect.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety patients of mixed hemorrhoids who received external excision and internal ligation were randomly assigned into an EA group, an auricular point sticking group and a combined group, 30 cases in each one. All the treatment was applied 30 min before surgery. Electroacupuncture was used at Xialiao (BL 34) and Changqiang (GV 1) in the EA group, once a day. The auricular points were bilateral shenmen (TF), pizhixia (AT), jiaogan (AH) and gangmen (HX) in the auricular point sticking group, pressing 3-6 times every day, once 3-5 min. EA and auricular point sticking therapy were applied in the combined group. When the visual analogue scale (VAS) score was above 6, aminophenol dihydrocodeine was applied in the three groups. The scores of anal pain VAS and limb activity at the 4th, 12th, 24th, 48th, 72th hours after operation were compared among the three groups, as well as the maximum scores of VAS in 24 hours (T24max VAS) of 1-3 days after operation, the total dose of aminophenol dihydrocodeine 72 h after operation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The VAS and limb activity scores at all the time points after operation, the T24max VAS on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd days after operation and the dose of aminophenol dihydrocodeine in the combined group were better than those in the EA and auricular point sticking groups (all <0.05). The VAS and limb activity scores at 4, 12, 24 h after operation and T24max VAS on the 1st day after operation in the EA group were lower than those in the auricularpoint sticking group (all <0.05). The VAS and limb activity scores at 48, 72 h after operation, and the T24max VAS on the 2nd and 3rd days in the auricular point sticking group were lower than those in the EA group (all <0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EA combined with auricular point sticking therapy are better than simple EA and auricular point sticking therapy for anal pain of mixed hemorrhoid after external excision and internal ligation. The analgesic effect of EA is rapider, and the effect of auricular point sticking therapy is longer. The combination of the two methods own coordination effect.</p>

Clinical observation on anal pendant expansion after PPH of mixed hemorrhoid treated with acupuncture at Xialiao (BL 34) and Changqiang (GV 1) / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the difference in the clinical efficacy on anal pendant expansion after PPH (procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids) of mixed hemorrhoid between acupuncture at Xialiao (BL 34) and Chang-qiang (GV 1) and oral administration of diosmin.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty cases of mixed hemorrhoids after PPH were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. In the observation group, since the 1st day, acupuncture had been applied to Xialiao (BL 34) and Changqiang (GV 1). The needles were retained for 30 min afterarrival, and the treatment was given once a day, totally for 7 days. In the control group, diosmin tablets had been prescribed for oral administration since the 1st day, 0.9 g each time, twice a day, totally for 7 days. The degree, persistent time and the pain score of anal pendant expansion were compared on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 7th days after PPH between the two groups and the efficacy was evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>On the 1st day after PPH, the diffe-rences in the scores of the degree and persistent time of anal pendant expansion were not significant statistically between the two groups (all>0.05), but the pain score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (<0.05) and lower than that before treatment (<0.05). On the 2nd, 3rd and 7th days after PPH, the degree and persistent time of anal pendant expansion and pain score in the two groups were all lower than those before treatment (all<0.05). The results in the observation group were better than those in the control group (all<0.05). At the end of treatment (on the 7th day after PPH), the total effective rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group[90.0% (27/30) vs 83.3% (25/30),<0.05].</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Acupuncture at Xialiao (BL 34) and Changqiang (GV 1) achieves the superior efficacy on anal pendant expansion after PPH of mixed hemorrhoids as compared with diosmin tablets.</p>

Molecular epidemiology and detection of clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae producing plasmid-mediated 16S rRNA methylases / 中华检验医学杂志

Objective To investigate the prevalence and molecular epidemiology of clinical isolates of plasmid-mediated 16S rRNA methylases-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae. Methods From January 2006 and September 2007, 337 non-replicate clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae were consecutively collected from inpatients in a teaching hospital in Wenzhou, China. All of the isolates were identified by the automated microbiology systems. MICs of amikacin, gentamicin and tobramycin were determined by agar dilution method. The isolates were investigated for the presence of ESBLs by the CLSI-recommended confirmatory tests. PCR was used to detect 16S rRNA methylase genes, ESBL genes and class Ⅰ integrase gene. The homology of these isolates was analyzed by pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Results Sixty-four ( 19. 0% ), 28 ( 8. 3% ) and 55 ( 16. 3% ) of 337 isolates were resistant to gentamicin, amikacin and tobramycin, respectively. Twenty-one (6. 2% ) isolates carried 16S rRNA methylase genes (3 for armA, 13 for rmtB, 5 for both armA and rmtB) and high-level resistant to gentamicin, amikacin and tobramycin ( MICs ≥256 mg/L). Nineteen of 21 isolates with 16S rRNA methylase genes were ESBL producers, blaCTX-M-14-like, blaCTX-M-like and blaSHV-12-like were predominant genotypes of ESBLs. The plasmids of 13 isolates were transferred into the recipients E. co/iJ53. PCR and sequence analysis revealed that blaCTX-M-14-like,blaCTX-M-15-like and blaSHV-12-like were co-transferred with the armA or the rmtB to the recipients. All transconjugants harbored intll and blaTEN-1. Of the 21 isolates, 14 patterns were obtained by PFGE. Conclusion Both horizontal gene transfer and clonal spread were responsible for the dissemination of the rmtB or the armA gene in Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Prevalence of aac(6')-Ib-cr in clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae / 中华检验医学杂志

Objective To investigate the prevalence of aac(6')-Ib-cr in clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae.Methods A total of 337 isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae were isolated from clinical specimens in our hospital from Jan,2006 to Sep,2007.Gentamycin,amikacin or tobramicin was used to screen the isolated with aac(6')-Ib-cr.aac(6')-Ib and class 1 interase gene(intl1)was determined by PcR All PCR products of aac(6')-Ib were sequenced for determination of aac(6')-Ib-cr. MICs of antibiotics were determined by agar dilution method.The ESBLs-producing isolates were determined by the CLSI-recommended confirmatory tests.Conjugation test was used to detect the transfer of plasmid.Results Of the 337 clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae,64(19.0%),28(8.3%)and 55(16.3%)isolates were resistant to gentamycin,amikacin and tobramycin,respectively.Among 64 gentamycin-resistant isolates,24(37.5%)were positive for aac(6')-Ib-cr,including 13 ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates and 11 ciprofloxacinsusceptible isolates.The prevalence of aac(6')-Ib-cr in ciprofloxacin-resistant and-susceptible isolates were 54.2%(13/24)and 27.5%(11/40).The positive rates of ESBLs and intl1 in the 24 isolates carrying aac(6')-Ib-cr were 79.2%(19/24)and 91.7%(22/24).Plasmids carrying aac(6')-Ib-cr of 13 isolates were successfully transferred to E.coli J53.Plasmids of all transconjugants were positive for aac(6')-Ib-cr and intl1.All transconjugants were ESBL producing strains.Conclusions aac(6')-Ib-cr exists widely in clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae.aac(6')-Ib-cr and ESBL gene usually coexist in a selftransmissible conjugative plasmid by class 1 integron.

Effects of ZJG on the quality of sperm in male rat epididymis / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of Chinese herbal composition Zengjing Granule (ZJG) on the quality of sperm in the epididymis of infertile rats, and to study its therapeutic mechanisms of improving sperm quality.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 40 GTW infertile rats were divided into 4 groups of 10 rats each, including an infertility group[GTW 2 mg/(ml.100 g)], a high-dosage group[ZJG 0.67 g/(ml.100 g) + GTW 2 mg/(ml.100 g)], a medium-dosage group[ZJG 0.33 g/(ml.100 g) + GTW 2 mg/(ml.100 g)], a low-dosage group[ZJG 0.17 g/(ml.100 g) + GTW 2 mg/(ml.100 g)], and a normal control group(1% CMC). This study consisted of a 3-week modeling period and a 3-week ZJG period. The changes of sperm quality, the thickness of the epididymal gland canal wall and sexual organ coefficient were detected after 3-week ZJG period.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 3 ZJG groups, the sperm density was (59.6 +/- 3.72), (63.3 +/- 5.70) and (69.7 +/- 6.91) x 10(6)/ml, the sperm motility rates were (65.4 +/- 6.33)%, (69.3 +/- 10.96)% and (72.6 +/- 9.61)%, the sperm deformity rates were (52.3 +/- 7.47)%, (46.2 +/- 7.73)% and (33.2 +/- 7.97)% respectively. The ZJG groups showed significant difference from the infertility group (P < 0.05), whose sperm density, motility and deformity were (13.1 +/- 6.81) x 10(6)/ml, (7.6 +/- 5.87)%, and (77.2 +/- 8.75)% respectively. But there was no significant difference between ZJG groups and the normal control group (P > 0.05), whose sperm density, motility and deformity were (75.6 +/- 10.82) x 10(6)/ml, (83.00 +/- 8.02)%, and (8.80 +/- 3.49)% respectively. The thickness of the epididymal gland canal wall was (37.07 +/- 3.38), (37.16 +/- 6.69) and (43.42 +/- 10.23) nm in the three ZJG groups respectively, different from the infertility group[(28.65 +/- 6.96) nm] (P < 0.05) significantly, but not from the normal control group [(45.79 +/- 11.13) nm] (P > 0.05). The ZJG groups showed an increase in the organ coefficient of the epididymal gland canal wall. And these was obvious statistical difference compared with the infertility group (P < 0.05), but no statistical significance compared with the normal control group (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>ZJG can obviously improve the sperm quality of infertile rats. Its therapeutic mechanisms can be summed up as follows: restoring the thickness of epididymal gland wall, increasing the organ coefficient of testes and epididymis, and hence improving the spermatozoa maturing function of epididymis of infertile rats.</p>