[Influence of penetrative needling of Shendao (GV 11) on the symptom score and serum IgE content in chronic urticaria patients].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes of symptom scores and serum IgE level after treatment with thick-needle subcutaneous penetration of Shendao (GV 11) in chronic urticaria patients. METHODS: A total of 60 chronic urticaria patients were randomly divided into acupuncture group (n = 30) and medication group (n = 30). Subcutaneous penetrative needling was applied to GV 11 with thick acupuncture needle (retained for 4 h/time, once daily, 5 times/week) for patients of acupuncture group and Levocetirizine Hydrochloride tablets (5 mg/time, once daily in the first two weeks, then, once every other day in the 3rd and 41th weeks, and once every 3 days in the last two weeks) were given to patients of medication group. Serum IgE content was assayed before and 2,6, 12 weeks after the treatment by chemiluminescent technique. Symptom scores were obtained by "0-3 four levels assessment" method in the light of the size of the wheal and the itching severity. RESULTS: Self-comparison indicated that the symptom scores and serum IgE levels declined significantly (P < 0.01) 2 and 6 weeks (Wks) after the treatment in both acupuncture and medication groups,and 12 Wks after the treatment in the acupuncture group (P < 0.01). Comparison between two groups showed that the symptom score and serum IgE content of acupuncture group were significant lower than those of medication group 12 Wks after the treatment (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between two groups in the symptom scores and serum IgE levels before, 2 and 6 Wks after the treatment (P > 0.05). A positive correlation exists between the symptom score and the serum IgE level before and after the treatment in both groups. CONCLUSION: Thick-needle subcutaneous penetration of Shendao (GV 11) can effectively improve clinical symptoms of chronic urticaria patients, which may be closely related to its effect in lowering peripheral blood IgE level.

[Isolation, characterization and expression analysis of male sterility gene homology sequence in wheat].

One 134 bp fragment was amplified in anthers of male sterile and fertile wheat using one pair of degenerated primer designed based on the conserved domain of MS2 gene in Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa, and one 1604 bp male sterility gene homology sequence was extended by in silico cloning based on the 134 bp fragment. The amino acids encoded by the male sterility gene homology sequence include a 200 amino acid conserved domain of male sterility, and this sequence expressed only in wheat male fertile anthers; no expression in male sterile anthers, roots and leaves. This research demonstrated that the cloned male sterile homology sequence is specific to wheat anther development.