Empirical analysis on lumbar disc herniation treated with "sinew-bone three needling technique" of Chinese medicine / 中国针灸

The paper presents professor WU Han-qing's experience in treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) with "sinew-bone three needling technique" of Chinese medicine. Based on the theory of meridian sinew, the points are located by "three-pass method" in terms of the distribution of meridian sinew and syndrome/pattern differentiation. The cord-like muscles and adhesion are relieved by relaxing technique to work directly on the affected sites and alleviate the local compression to the nerve root. The needle technique is operated flexibly according to the affected regions involved, due to which, the needling sensation is increased while the safety ensured. As a result, the meridian qi is enhanced, the mind and qi circulation is regulated; and the clinical effect is improved.

[Experience of He's three-clear method by stages for herpes zoster on the head and face].

The clinical experience of He's three-clear method by stages for herpes zoster on the head and face is summarized. The strong-clear method (blood-letting therapy) combined with mild-clear method (acupuncture with filiform needle) are applied for the acute pain period and subacute pain period of herpes zoster on the head and face. For acute pain period, the bleeding volume should be large (more than 10 mL), and treatment is given once every other day; for the subacute pain period, the bleeding volume should be 5-10 mL, and treatment is given 2-3 times a week. In the chronic pain period, the fire needle of the warm-clear method combined with mild-clear method (acupuncture with filiform needle) are applied for the syndrome of qi-stagnation and blood-stasis, while the warm acupuncture of the warm-clear method combined with mild-clear method (acupuncture with filiform needle) ware applied for the syndrome of qi-deficiency yin-injury blood-stasis.

[Moxibustion on plaque psoriasis of blood stasis: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the short-term and long-term effects of moxibustion on plaque psoriasis of blood stasis, and to compare the curative effect between moxibustion and calcipotriol ointment. METHODS: A total of 80 patients with plaque psoriasis of blood stasis were randomly divided into an observation group (40 cases, 2 cases dropped off) and a control group (40 cases, 4 cases dropped off). Both groups were given routine medical vaseline topical emollient basic treatment. In the observation group, moxibustion was applied to ashi point (target skin lesions), Zusanli (ST 36), Xuehai (SP 10) and Qihai (CV 6) for 30 min each time, 3 times a week. The control group was treated with calcipotriol ointment (0.25 g each time, once in the morning and evening) on the target skin lesions. Both groups were treated for 8 weeks. The psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score before and after treatment, main clinical symptoms of TCM score and dermatology life quality index (DLQI) score before and after treatment and 3 and 6 moths follow-up were observed in the two groups; the clinical efficacy after treatment was evaluated and the recurrence rates of the two groups were followed up for 3 and 6 months after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, the PASI scores in the both groups were lower than before treatment (P<0.01). After treatment and 3 and 6 months follow-up, the main clinical symptoms of TCM scores and DLQI scores of the two groups were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05), and at 3 and 6 months follow-up, those in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference between the observation group and the control group in overall effective rate and target skin lesion effective rate (P>0.05). At 3 and 6 months follow-up, the overall recurrence rate and target skin lesion recurrence rate in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Both moxibustion and calcipotriol ointment have good short-term effects on plaque psoriasis of blood stasis. Moxibustion has more advantages in reducing the recurrence rate of psoriasis, improving the main clinical symptoms of TCM and quality of life.

Effect of pretreatments on the metal-ceramic bonding strength of a Pd-Ag alloy.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of surface treatments on the bonding properties between a metal and ceramic. METHODS: Sixty metal specimens were divided equally into four groups of 15 samples each. These groups received different treatments (Gr1: 250µm Al2O3+preoxidation; Gr2: 250µm Al2O3+degassing; Gr3: 120µm Al2O3+preoxidation; Gr4: 120µm Al2O3+degassing). Bond strengths were evaluated using a three-point bending test. The results were analyzed using 2-way ANOVA and Tukey's test. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy were used to observe the microscopic features, elemental compositions and distributions, and diffusion in the specimens. Mechanical profiler was used to measure the roughness of metal surface. RESULTS: The bond strengths of the four groups ranged from 45.00±3.63MPa to 51.61±5.91MPa, with significant differences (P<.05). The specimen that received the pretreatment of 250µm Al2O3 air-particle abrasion+degassing had the highest bond strength. Heating under different oxygen partial pressures caused the final Pd-Ag alloys to have varying degrees of internal oxidation and different quantities of metallic nodules. None of the elements in either the ceramic or the Pd-Ag alloy layer diffused into the other layer. CONCLUSIONS: The metal-ceramic specimen subjected to air-particle abrasion with 250µm Al2O3 and degassed before porcelain firing had significantly higher bond strength than specimens treated differently.

Lentiviral vector-mediated doxycycline-inducible iASPP gene targeted RNA interference in hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: iASPP, an inhibitory member of the apoptosis-stimulating proteins of p53 (ASPP) family, has been found to be up-regulated in various human tumor types. This study was to construct an efficient doxycycline-regulated, lentiviral vector-mediated knockdown system for iASPP that will allow for inducible down-regulation of iASPP gene expression and preliminary functional analysis. METHODS: A pair of complementary oligos with hairpin structures targeting the iASPP gene and a negative control were synthesized, then ligated with pLVTHM vector and sequenced. The fragment containing the shRNA cassette was cloned to pLVCT-tTR-KRAB plasmid. The recombinant vectors were co-transfected with viral packaging mix into 293T cells, and viral supernatant was harvested to determine the titer. After treatment with or without doxycycline, HepG2 cells infected with virus were harvested and the expression of iASPP was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis. Its effects on tumor growth were characterized using MTS assay, soft agar colony formation, and flow cytometry analysis. RESULTS: The lentiviral vector expressing shRNA that targets to the oncogene iASPP was constructed successfully. HepG2 infected with the lentivirus expressing shRNA against iASPP inhibited the expression of iASPP in the presence of doxycycline, which resulted in the repression of tumor cell proliferation and anchorage-independent growth potential. CONCLUSIONS: The lentiviral vector-mediated tet-on system demonstrates efficient and inducible knockdown of iASPP in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. iASPP gene may be involved in tumorigenesis and progression of human tumors.

[Stage-based treatment of gouty arthritis by combination therapy of traditional Chinese and Western medicines: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical therapeutic effect of the combination therapy of traditional Chinese and Western medicines in treating gouty arthritis based on the stage of disease, and to explore a safe, effective and reasonable therapeutic regimen for prevention and treatment of gouty arthritis. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-six cases of gouty arthritis were divided into three groups randomly, 58 cases in traditional Chinese drug (TCD)-treated group, 56 cases in Western medicine (WM)-treated group and 52 cases in TCD plus WM-treated group. They were all treated for 12 weeks. In the acute stage, patients in TCD-treated group were treated with Huzhang Gout Granule and Jinhuang Ointment, and patients in WM-treated group were treated with diclofenac sodium dual release enteric-coated capsules. In the intermission, patients in TCD-treated group were given Yinlian Gout Granule, and patients in WM-treated group were given benzbromarone or allopurinol. Patients in TCD plus WM-treated group were given both TCD and WM. Clinical symptom score and blood uric acid (BUA) level were measured. The effect initiating time, relapse rate, efficacy rate and the incidence rate of adverse effects were also studied. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the efficacy rate and effect initiating time among the three groups in the acute stage. The clinical symptom score and BUA level were obviously reduced in three groups. In the intermission, BUA level in the WM-treated group and TCD plus WM-treated group were obviously reduced. Although there was a drop tendency in the BUA level in TCD-treated group, there was no statistical difference. The relapse rates in TCD-, WM- and TCD plus WM-treated groups were 12.07%, 26.79% and 9.62%, respectively. There was statistical difference in relapse rates among the three groups (P<0.05). The relapse rate was decreased in TCD plus WM-treated group as compared with those in TCD-treated and WM-treated groups. The average clinical symptom scores during recurrence in the three groups were (10.00+/-3.61), (12.38+/-1.85) and (10.75+/-1.89), respectively. The incidence of adverse effects in TCD-treated group (3.45%) was lower than the other two groups (21.43% and 15.38%). CONCLUSION: The combination therapy of traditional Chinese and Western medicines based on the stage of disease can control the symptoms of gouty arthritis in the acute stage, improve joint function, and can control the BUA level during the intermission, prevent recurrence and relieve the adverse effects.