Improvement in dyspepsia related symptoms treated with acupuncture in 278 patients with postprandial distress syndrome: a secondary analysis of a multi-center randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the clinical effect of acupuncture for the improvements in various dyspeptic symptoms of postprandial distress syndrome.@*METHODS@#The secondary analysis on the data of a multi-center randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted. 278 patients with postprandial distress syndrome were randomized into an acupuncture group (138 cases) and a sham-acupuncture group (140 cases). In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied to Baihui (GV 20), Danzhong (CV 17), Zhongwan (CV 12), Qihai (CV 6), Neiguan (PC 6), Zusanli (ST 36), etc. In the sham-acupuncture group, 6 sites, neither located on meridians nor belonged to meridian acupoints, were selected and punctured shallowly. The duration of treatment was 20 min each time, 3 times a week, for 4 weeks totally in the two groups. The follow-up visit lasted for 12 weeks. The scores of dyspeptic symptoms were compared between the two groups before treatment, during treatment (in week 1, 2, 3 and 4) and during follow-up (in week 8, 12 and 16) separately.@*RESULTS@#Besides the scores of early satiety and vomiting in the sham-acupuncture group in week 1, the scores of the other dyspepsia symptoms during treatment and follow-up were all reduced in the two groups as compared with those before treatment (@*CONCLUSION@#Acupuncture remarkably relieves postprandial fullness, early satiety, upper abdominal bloating and belching in patients with postprandial distress syndrome.

Effect of acupuncture on knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score in patients with knee osteoarthritis / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To verify the clinical effect of acupuncture on knee osteoarthritis (KOA).@*METHODS@#Forty-two patients with KOA were randomly divided into an acupuncture group (21 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a sham acupuncture group (21 cases, 1 case dropped off). The patients in the acupuncture group were treated with routine acupuncture at 5-6 local acupoints [Dubi (ST 35), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Heding (EX-LE 2), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Xuehai (SP 10), Zusanli (ST 36), etc.] and 3-4 distal acupoints [Fengshi (GB 31), Waiqiu (GB 36), Xuanzhong (GB 39), Zulinqi (GB 41), etc.]. The patients in the sham acupuncture group were treated with shallow needling technique at non-acupoint. The needles were retained for 30 min in both groups. All the treatment was given three times a week for 8 weeks. Knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS) were recorded before and after treatment and 18-week follow-up.@*RESULTS@#Compared before treatment, the scores of 5 dimensions of KOOS [pain, symptoms (except pain), daily activities, sports and entertainment, and quality of life] were increased after treatment and during follow-up in the two groups (@*CONCLUSION@#Acupuncture can reduce the pain symptoms and improve daily activities in patients with KOA.

Effect of the small needle knife through the Zusanli(ST 36) on behavior and hippocampal expression of NLRP3 and IL-1β in myalgia comorbid depressed rats / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of the small needle knife through the Zusanli(ST 36) on behavior and hippocampal expression of NLRP3 and IL-1β in myalgia comorbid depressed rats.@*METHODS@#The rat models of myalgia comorbid depression were prepared by intraperitoneal injection of acute reserpine. Twenty-four SD male rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, small needle knife group and amitriptyline group, 6 rats in each group. The open field behavior and mechanical pain threshold of each group were detected. The thermal pain threshold was detected by intelligent hot plate test. The expression of NLRP3 and IL-1β in hippocampus of rats was detected by Western blotting.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the model group, the mechanical pain threshold of the foot was significantly improved in the small needle knife group (0.05). The expressions of NLRP3 and IL-1β in the hippocampus of the model group were significantly increased(0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Small needle knife can improve the pathological state of myalgia comorbid depression caused by reserpine in rats. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1β expression in central hippocampus.

Clinical characteristics and effect of secondary individualized therapy in chronic hepatitis B patients infected with the rtA181 mutation hepatitis B virus / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients infected with the antiviral-resistant rtA181 mutation hepatitis B virus (HBV) who have been unresponsive to general therapy to determine the effects of individualized therapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-four patients with confirmed rtA181 mutation and who experienced virological breakthrough during nucleus(t)ide analogue (NUC) treatment were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. Their serum levels of HBV DNA, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and alanine transaminase (ALT) were tested. Each patient was genotyped by pyrosequencing for 10 mutation sites in the HBV P gene that have been previously correlated to NUC efficacy. Each patient's antiviral therapy and response history was analyzed in regard to their particular mutation pattern. The serological index was determined for carriers of the rtA181T/V mutation. The secondary individualized treatment included adding/switching to entecavir (ETV; group A) or adding telbivudine (LdT; group B) upon confirmation of drug resistance. Effect of individualized treatment was analyzed by T test and Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables with normal or skewed distributions, respectively. Categorical variables were analyzed by the Chi-squared ( x² ) or Fisher's exact tests.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The rtA181T mutation was found in 64.8% (35/54) of patients with rtA181 mutation HBV. The most frequent previously administered medications were adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) and lamivudine (LAM). Multi-site rtA181 mutations occurred more frequently in the patients with multi-NUCs history (57.6%) than in those with single NUCs history (28.6%) (x²=4.342, P less than 0.05). Serum HBV DNA level at virological breakthrough was lower than that at baseline of the first antiviral treatment (5.66+/-1.01 vs. 6.75+/-0.81 log10 copies/ml; t=-4.210, P less than 0.01). The serum HBsAg level was higher in carriers of the rtA181T mutation than in carriers of the rtA181V mutation (3.80+/-0.45 vs. 3.46+/-0.60 log10 IU/ml; t=2.109, P less than 0.05). In patients with serum HBV DNA more than or equal to 6 log10 copies/ml at viral breakthrough, 100% (8/8) of patients in the secondary treatment group A and 75% (3/4) patients in the secondary treatment group B exhibited virological response at week 24 after intervention. Undetectable HBV DNA was achieved in three patients of group A and one patient of group B. In patients with serum HBV DNA less than 6 log10 copies/ml at viral breakthrough, 100% (14/14) of patients in group A and 71.4% (5/7) of patients in group B exhibited biological response at week 24 after intervention. The serum HBV DNA level decreased to undetectable levels in 12 patients of group A and four patients of group B.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The rtA181 mutation pattern correlates with previous antiviral therapy response. In addition, multi-site rtA181 mutations occur more frequently in patients with a history of multi-NUCs therapy. Adding or switching rtA181 carriers to ETV produces a more robust virological suppression than adding LdT.</p>

Study on the association of thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor and the Thr325Ile and Thr147Ala polymorphisms of its encoding gene CPB2 in patients with coronary heart disease / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association of thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) and its encoding gene CPB2 polymorphism in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The CPB2 gene polymorphisms of Thr325Ile and Thr147Ala were analyzed with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in patients of acute myocardial infarction (n=100), acute angina pectoris (n=110) and a control group (n=190). The antigen (Ag) and activity (Act) of the TAFI were determined by sandwich enzyme link immunosorbent assay specific for human TAFI and chromogenic assay for activated human TAFI in plasma, respectively. The relationship between Thr325Ile and Thr147Ala gene polymorphism and TAFI Ag and Act were also analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Plasma TAFI Act and TAFI Ag in acute myocardial infarction group and acute angina pectoris group (CHD patients group) were both significantly higher than those of the control group. The genotype frequencies of Thr325Ile (C1040T) and Thr147Ala (G505A) were as the following: C1040C (Thr325Thr) 67 (31.9%) and 64 (33.6%); C1040T (Thr325Ile) 109 (51.9%) and 92 (48.4%); T1040T (Ile325Ile) 34 (16.2%) and 34(17.8%); G505G (Ala147 Ala) 75 (35.7%) and 72 (37.8%); G505A(Thr147Ala) 112 (53.3%) and 96 (50.5%); A505A(Thr147Thr)23 (10.9%) and 22 (11.7%), in the CHD patients and control respectively. Chi-square analysis showed no significant difference in the Thr325Ile and Thr147Ala polymorphism distributions (P > 0.05). In addition, at the 325 position, the TAFI antigen of the Thr325Thr was higher than that of the other genotypes (Thr325Ile and Ile325Ile, P < 0.05). There was no statistical significance between the TAFI antigen of the Thr325Ile and Ile325Ile (P > 0.05). No significant correlation was found between the TAFI Act and the Thr325Ile polymorphism. At the position 147, significant correlation between the polymorphism of the Thr147Ala and TAFI Ag and Act was not found.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TAFI plays an important role in anti-fibrinolysis. It might be a risk factor for acute myocardial infarction and acute angina pectoris. The Thr325Ile polymorphism had obvious effect on TAFI antigen levels, but the Thr325Ile and Thr147Ala polymorphism had no association with coronary heart disease.</p>

Significance of the examination of path between eosinophils in peripheral blood and marrow stem cells for evaluating the effect of hormone therapy in patients with allergic rhinitis / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>By means of the detection of the numbers of CD34(+) cells and eosinophils (EOS), and the level of IL-5 in peripheral blood from normal controls and patients with allergic rhinitis pre- or post-treatment, the role of EOS-stem cells paths for treatment effect in allergic rhinitis (AR) was studied so as to find the convenient and quick indicators which could be used to evaluate the clinical therapeutic effect and adjust the methods of the hormone therapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>There were 2 groups. (1) experimental group: 44 patients, including 24 males and 20 females with a age range of 7 to 68 years old. The patients received the treatment of fluticasone spurt for four weeks. (2) CONTROL GROUP: 30 cases, from normal health examination. The EOS numbers, CD4(+) cell numbers and the IL-5 level were examined in control group as well as before and after therapy in experimental group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The IL-5 level and CD numbers before therapy in experimental group were (88.25 +/- 33.47) ng/L, (9.24 +/- 2.15)/10(5), significantly higher than that after therapy and experimental group which were (44.34 +/- 16.32) ng/L, (6.31 +/- 1.83)/10(5) and (31.24 +/- 8.43) ng/L, (3.47 +/- 1.32)/10(5) respectively. The IL-5 level was positively correlated with the CD34(+) number pre-and post treatment in experimental group (r = 0.64, P <0.01; (r = 0.61, P <0.01). The EOS number was positively correlated with the level of IL-5 (r = 0.64, P <0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>IL-5 and CD34(+) cells can be regarded as indicators to evaluate the therapeutic effect. The EOS, CD34(+) cells and the level of IL-5 in the peripheral blood are correlated with the pathogenesis of AR, suggesting that there is a related path between the local nasal tissue of AR patients and the marrow.</p>

Study on the relationship between chronic glomerulonephritis and human leukocyte antigen in Shandong province / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The purpose of this study was to observe the association between chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) on DNA level in order to identify susceptible and protective genes and to further explain the possible pathogenesis of CGN.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>1073 renal transplantation patients with Han ethnicity were included in this study. All patients were recruited from three provincial Hospitals during the past ten years. The control group contained 7418 healthy Han volunteer donors from Shandong Hematopoietic Stem Cell Data Bank of China. We collected data about the polymorphism of HLA-I , II and DRB1. Gene frequency (GF), relative risk (RR) and correlation test were analyzed using statistical software. Some patients carrying the susceptible genes were followed up for 1,3 and 5 years, and compared their survival rate respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The frequency of HLA-A23, A25,B15, B40, B53 and DRB1 * 18 alleles increased significantly in CGN patients than in controls, showing that they might be the suspicious susceptibility genes of CGN. After the follow-up periods, the prognosis of patients with the susceptible genes was worse than the controls. The frequency of haplotypes of A23-B44-DRB1 * 18, A25-B15-DRB1 * 07, A3-B70-DRB1 * 11, A68-B13-DRB1 * 04, A11-B10-DRB1 * 12 increased significantly in CGN patients than in controls. There were 8 lower frequencies alleles (including A20, A22, A35, A36, A38, B21, B73 and B78) in CGN patients that were not found in the control group. The frequencies of the HLA-A32, A33, B50, B58, B60, B71, DRB1 * 16 alleles decreased significantly in CGN patients than in controls, showing that they might be the protective genes of CGN.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our data showed that there might be corresponding susceptibility and protective genes of CGN in Han population, in Shandong. There was significant association between the five common haplotype and CGN in Shandong population. However, the prognosis of the patients with the susceptibility genes was worse than the controls.</p>

The application of Weibull parameter model to survival analysis of glioma / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the factors affecting the survival and to predict the survival time of glioma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Graph method was applied to fit the type of probability distribution of patients' postoperative survival time. As one suitable model, Weibull regression model tested by residual analysis was used to identify prognostic factors for postoperative survival and to predict patients' post-operative survival time.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In multivariate analysis of Weibull regression model, following characteristics showed significant influence on postoperative survival time including: sex, age, epilepsy, type of glioma, density of glioma, type of surgery, times of surgery and mode of postoperative therapy. According to predictive value, patients were clustered into three groups. The survival probability of one year for the first group was less than 50% and that of five years for the second group about 50%, for the third group around 80%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Sex, age, epilepsy, type of glioma, density of glioma, type of surgery, times of surgery and mode of postoperative therapy were important risk factors and Weibull regression model might help to predict patients' postoperative survival time.</p>

Association of thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor and its encoding gene CPB2 (Thr325Ile) polymorphism with myocardial infarction / 中华检验医学杂志

Objective To evaluate the association of thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI)and its encoding gene CPB2 polymorphism with myocardial infarction.Methods CPB2 gene (Thr325Ile)polymorphism were typed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP)in patients of myocardial infarction(n=100)and a control group(n=90).The antigen(Ag) and the activity(Act)of TAFI were determined by ELISA and chromogenic assay respectively.The relationship between Thr325Ile gene polymorphism and TAFI Ag and Act were also analyzed.Results In MI group TAFI Ag and Act[TAFI Act(51.4?9.3)?g/ml,TAFI Ag(145.6?33.5)%]were significently higher than those of control group[TAFI Act(25.7?5.6)?g/ml,TAFI Ag(76.5?24.8)%] (t=22.927 2,P