[Effect of acupuncture on diaphragmatic function in patients with AECOPD typeâ ¡ respiratory failure evaluated by ultrasound detection].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined with western conventional therapy on type Ⅱ respiratory failure of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) and evaluate the effect of acupuncture on diaphragmatic function and prognosis by bedside ultrasound. METHODS: A total of 111 patients with AECOPD type Ⅱ respiratory failure were randomized into an acupuncture group, a conventional treatment group and a non-acupoint acupuncture group, 37 cases in each one. The routine AECOPD nursing care and treatment with western medicine were provided in the 3 groups. Additionally, in the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied at Dingchuan (EX-B 1), Feishu (BL 13), Taiyuan (LU 9), Danzhong (CV 17) and Zhongwan (CV 12), etc. In the non-acupoint acupuncture group, acupuncture was given at the points 5 to 10 mm lateral to each of the acupoints selected in the acupuncture group. Acupuncture was given once every day, 30 min each time, consecutively for 10 days in the above two groups. Separately, before treatment, on day 3, 7 and 10 of treatment, arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) and diaphragm thickening fraction (TFdi) were observed in each group. Before and after treatment, the inflammatory and immune indexes (levels of white blood cell [WBC], procalcitonin [PCT], hypersensitive C-reactive protein [hs-CRP] and T lymphocyte percentage [ %]), auxiliary respiratory muscle movement score, the score of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) assessment test (CAT), the score of the modified British Medical Research Council dyspnea scale (mMRC) and the TCM syndrome score were compared in each group. The duration of mechanical ventilation, relative complications, 14-day clinical controlled discharge rate and the therapeutic effect were observed in each group. RESULTS: On day 3, 7 and 10 of treatment, PaO2 and TFdi were all increased as compared with those before treatment (P<0.01) and PaCO2 was reduced as compared with that before treatment in each group (P<0.01). After treatment, % was increased as compared with that before treatment in each group (P<0.01), WBC, PCT, hs-CRP, auxiliary respiratory muscle movement score, CAT score, mMRC score and TCM syndrome score were all reduced as compared with those before treatment in each group (P<0.01). After treatment, PaCO2, WBC, PCT, hs-CRP, auxiliary respiratory muscle movement score, CAT score and mMRC score in the acupuncture group were all lower than the other two groups (P<0.01), PaO2 and TFdi were higher than the other two groups (P<0.01); % was higher and TCM syndrome score was lower in the acupuncture group compared with those in the non-acupoint acupuncture group (P<0.01). The duration of mechanical ventilation and the total incidence of complications in the acupuncture group were all lower than the other two groups (P<0.01), and the 14-day clinical controlled discharge rate and total clinical effective rate were higher than the other two groups (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture as adjunctive therapy achieves significant therapeutic effect on AECOPD type Ⅱ respiratory failure. It improves diaphragmatic function, promotes oxygenation and relieves carbon dioxide retention of artery, alleviates clinical symptoms and reduces the time of mechanic ventilation and hospitalization. Besides, the bedside ultrasound detection can objectively reflect the effect of acupuncture on diaphragmatic function in the patients with AECOPD complicated with typeⅡrespiratory failure.

Shenfu injection attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced myocardial inflammation and apoptosis in rats.

Shenfu injection (SFI), a Chinese medicinal product, shows potent efficacy in treating sepsis. The aim of the present study was to clarify the protective effects of SFI against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced myocardial inflammation and apoptosis. Experiments were carried out in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats treated with LPS or LPS + SFI, and in H9C2 cardiomyocytes. The sepsis-associated myocardial inflammation and apoptosis was induced by the intraperitoneal injection of LPS (20 mg·kg-1). SFI attenuated the increased expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1ß induced by LPS both in serum and heart. In LPS group, cell viability was reduced, and reversed after SFI administration. LPS treatment increased the expression levels of cleaved-caspase 3 and Bax, and those of Bcl2 and Bcl2/Bax. These two trends were reversed by SFI administration. The expression levels of phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (p-MEK) and phosphorylated extracellular regulated protein kinases (p-ERK) were increased by LPS, and reversed by SFI. MEK inhibitor U0126 attenuated the apoptosis induced by LPS. These results indicate that SFI could treat LPS-induced cardiac dysfunction. In conclusion, SFI attenuates the inflammation and apoptosis induced by LPS via downregulating the MEK and ERK signaling pathways.

Immune effects of a precocious line of Eimeria necatrix with different doses and at different immunization times.

This study was designed to assess the immune protective effects of the vaccine strain of a precocious line of Eimeria necatrix with different doses and at different immunization times. The immunizations had a negative effect on weight gains of chickens to a certain degree but could be compensated during the "compensatory growth period" after immunity was established in the chickens. The number of oocysts excreted was positively correlated with the immunization dose. All the immunized chickens, whether they were immunized once or twice or immunized with different doses of sporulated oocysts, were able to resist attack from 1x105 virulent sporulated oocysts of E. necatrix. The lesion scoring showed that no significant difference existed in the chicken groups immunized with different doses (300 and 600) of sporulated oocysts. However, a difference existed in the immune homogeneity established in the different immunized groups, and two artificial immunizations were superior to one artificial immunization, indicating that two could extend the duration of oocyst excretion and allow more chances for the immunized chickens to become repeatedly infected.

Metabolomics techniques and its application in research of important protozoan parasites / 中国人兽共患病学报

Metabolomics is a new discipline which has developed rapidly following post-genomic,transcriptomics and proteomics.It has become an important research method because of its unique advantages.It is mainly used in drug research and development,disease surveillance and other fields.In addition,with the gradual maturation of metabolomics technology and the gradual development of new analytical methods,the application of metabolomics has been more and more widely,and metabolomics technology has been gradually applied to the field of parasite research,especially for protozoan parasites.This paper summarizes metabolomics,metabolomics research methods,and the application of metabolomics in research of protozoan parasites,with the aims of further understanding of metabolomics technology,and providing reference basis for solving problems of protozoan parasites.

PCR Identification and Phylogenetic Analysis of Trichomonas gallinae from Domestic Pigeons in Guangzhou, China

Avian trichomoniasis caused by Trichomonas gallinae is a serious protozoan disease worldwide. The domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica) is the main host for T. gallinae and plays an important role in the spread of the disease. Based on the internal transcribed spacers of nuclear ribosomal DNA of this parasite, a pair of primers (TgF2/TgR2) was designed and used to develop a PCR assay for the diagnosis of T. gallinae infection in domestic pigeons. This approach allowed the identification of T. gallinae, and no amplicons were produced when using DNA from other common avian pathogens. The minimum amount of DNA detectable by the specific PCR assay developed in this study was 15 pg. Clinical samples from Guangzhou, China, were examined using this PCR assay and a standard microscopy method, and their molecular characteristics were determined by phylogenetic analysis. All of the T. gallinae-positive samples detected by microscopic examination were also detected as positive by the PCR assay. Most of the samples identified as negative by microscopic examination were detected as T. gallinae positive by the PCR assay and were confirmed by sequencing. The positive samples of T. gallinae collected from Guangzhou, China, were identified as T. gallinae genotype B by sequencing and phylogenetic analyses, providing relevant data for studying the ecology and population genetic structures of trichomonads and for the prevention and control of the diseases they cause.

Immune effects of a precocious line of Eimeria necatrix with different doses and at different immunization times

This study was designed to assess the immune protective effects of the vaccine strain of a precocious line of Eimeria necatrix with different doses and at different immunization times. The immunizations had a negative effect on weight gains of chickens to a certain degree but could be compensated during the “compensatory growth period” after immunity was established in the chickens. The number of oocysts excreted was positively correlated with the immunization dose. All the immunized chickens, whether they were immunized once or twice or immunized with different doses of sporulated oocysts, were able to resist attack from 1x105 virulent sporulated oocysts of E. necatrix. The lesion scoring showed that no significant difference existed in the chicken groups immunized with different doses (300 and 600) of sporulated oocysts. However, a difference existed in the immune homogeneity established in the different immunized groups, and two artificial immunizations were superior to one artificial immunization, indicating that two could extend the duration of oocyst excretion and allow more chances for the immunized chickens to become repeatedly infected.