Acupuncture for prevention of moderate to severe seasonal allergic rhinitis: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture for prevention of moderate to severe seasonal allergic rhinitis.@*METHODS@#A total of 105 patients with moderate to severe seasonal allergic rhinitis were randomly divided into an observation group (53 cases, 3 cases dropped off) and a control group (52 cases, 4 cases dropped off). The patients in the observation group were treated with acupuncture at Yintang (GV 24+), Yingxiang (LI 20), Hegu (LI 4), Zusanli (ST 36), Fengchi (GB 20), Feishu (BL 13), etc. 4 weeks before the seizure period, once every other day, 3 times a week for 4 weeks. The patients in the control group were not given any intervention before the seizure period. Emergency drugs can be given appropriately during the seizure period in both groups. After seizure period, the seizure rate was recorded in the two groups; before treatment and on week 1, 2, 4, 6 of seizure period after treatment, the rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) score and total nasal symptom score (TNSS) were observed in the two groups; the rescue medication score (RMS) was recorded on week 1-6 of seizure period in the two groups.@*RESULTS@#The seizure rate of the observation group was 84.0% (42/50), which was lower than 100.0% (48/48) in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the scores of RQLQ and TNSS at each time point of seizure period were decreased compared with before treatment in the observation group (P<0.01), which were lower than the control group (P<0.01). The RMS score at each time point of seizure period in the observation group was lower than the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#Acupuncture can reduce the incidence of moderate to severe seasonal allergic rhinitis, relieve the symptoms, improve the quality of life and reduce the use of emergency drugs.

Application of meridian and acupoint diagnosis of three yin meridians of foot in the treatment for gynecological diseases with acupuncture and moxibustion / 中国针灸

With three representative types of gynecological diseases (dysmenorrhea, pelvic inflammation, polycystic ovary syndrome) as examples, the application methods of meridian and acupoint diagnosis for gynecological diseases treated with acupuncture and moxibustion are discussed. During clinical diagnosis and treatment, it is recommended to examine the patient's leg segment along the three yin meridians of foot, aiming to explore the positive reactions of the meridians and acupoints (color, shape, skin temperature, sensory abnormalities, etc.). Acupuncture and moxibustion treatment at this positive reaction place can improve the clinical efficacy. Meridian and acupoint diagnosis could provide basis for meridian syndrome differentiation, thus guiding the selection of acupoint prescriptions; it is also helpful to clarify the deficiency, excess, cold and heat of the disease nature, thus guiding the selection of acupuncture and moxibustion methods. In addition, it is an auxiliary method to estimate the prognosis and outcome of the disease.

An analysis on the burden of stroke in Fenghua City / 预防医学

Objective The purpose of this study was to analyze the burden of stroke in Fenghua City by disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs).Methods We used data of stroke incidence,prevalence and mortality in Fenghua City in 2013 and selected DISMODII to calculate DALYs.Results There were 1 895 cases of stroke reported in 2013,and the reported incidence rate was 392.03/100 000(standard incidence rate was 201.14/100 000).The reported incidence rate among male 436.33/100 000 (standard incidence rate was 210.55/100 000 ),higher than that of female 346.48/100 000 (standard incidence rate was 189.25/100 000)(P<0.05).There were 751 cases of stroke death,and the mortality rate was 155.28/100 000(standard mortality rate was 66.53/100 000).The prevalence rate of stroke was 1 899.53/100 000, and people aged over 60 were accounted 85.53%.The overall disease burden of stroke was 7 566.03 DALYs,with the intensity of 15.64 DALYs per 1 000 population.Men had a higher DALYs and DALYs intensity than in women.The burden of residents aged over 60 was 84.75%.Years of life lost (YLL ) was the main fraction in DALYs,and its percentage was 76.75%.Conclusion The overall disease burden of stroke in Fenghua City was high,suggesting that the community should pay more attention to the men aged over 60 in order to reduce the burden of stroke.

Role of GDNF in the behavior and cognitive impairment of mice induced by chronic stress and aging / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of chronic stress on the spatial learning-memory and the role of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) of prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus (HP) in different age mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The chronic stress model mice in 21 days with multiple chronic unpredictable stressors were applied. The spontaneous behavior and spatial learning-memory ability of mice were tested, using Open field and Morris water maze task, and the expression of GDNF in HP and PFC were detected by immunohistochemical method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with young mice, the spontaneous behaviors were significantly decreased and the spatial learning-memory function were significantly decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) in aged mice. The GDNF expression in the CA3, DG of HP and PFC were significantly reduced in aged mice (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). After chronic stress, the spontaneous behaviors were remarkably decreased and the ability of spatial learning-memory of the stress group mice were significantly decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) compared with those of the control group mice. The expression of GDNF in HP and PFC were remarkably reduced (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) in stress group mice. The aged stress mice had more serious changes after chronic stress.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The brain aging and chronic stress in mice causes behavioral changes and the damage of spatial learning-memory function, and which may be nearly related to the expression of GDNF in HP and PFC.</p>

Mosquito cell line C6/36 shows resistance to Cyt1Aa6.

This study aimed to investigate the resistance mechanism of C6/36 cells to Cyt1Aa6 protein under selection pressure. Receptor binding properties of Cyt1Aa6 toward sensitive and resistant C6/36 cells were investigated. More sensitive cells were detected with goat-anti-rabbit-FITC-labeled antibody, and the quantity of in vitro activated Cyt1Aa6 toxin bound to resistant cells was greatly reduced. Ligand western blot assays showed that disappearance of the 26 kDa protein and weakness of the positive bands of 68 kDa from resistant cells might lead to the resistance of C6/36 cells to Cyt1Aa6 toxin. The resistance of C6/36 cells was detected under selection in vitro-activated Cyt1Aa6 toxin. Receptor binding demonstrated that reduced Cyt1Aa6 bound to resistant cells, which might be closely related to the disappearance and weakness of some proteins. The results presented here are the first to demonstrate that Cyt1Aa protein, a uniquely characteristic toxin, induced resistance at the cellular level. It might be attributed to the change of receptors.

Is there an association between advanced stage of renal cell carcinoma and paraneoplastic syndrome?

To investigate any association between renal cell carcinoma [RCC] and paraneoplastic syndromes [PNS]. The retrospective analysis included 1,028 patients of Chinese Han nationality with resectable RCC and PNS. The PNS included elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], hypertension, cachexia, anemia, pyrexia, abnormal liver function, hypercalcemia, polycythemia, varicocele and neuromyopathy. Staging was categorized as local [T1-2N0M0] and locally advanced [T3-4NxM0]. Among patients with at least one PNS, elevated ESR [p = 0.008], cachexia [p = 0.000], varicocele [p = 0.000] and pyrexia [p = 0.021] were related to advanced stage of RCC. Among patients with only one PNS, hypertension [p = 0.012] and hypercalcemia [p = 0.000] were related to advanced stage. The remaining PNS were not associated with tumor stage. Pyrexia, elevated ESR, cachexia and varicocele were related to advanced RCC. Hypertension and hypercalcemia occurring as single PNS, although also correlated with advanced stage, require further investigation

Optimization of nutritional requirements for mycelial growth and sporulation of entomogenous fungus Aschersonia aleyrodis Webber / Otimização das exigências nutricionais para crescimento micelial e esporulação do fungo entomopatogênico Aschersonia aleyrodis Webber

The objective of the present study was to investigate the optimal nutritional requirements for mycelial growth and sporulation of entomopathogenic fungus Aschersonia aleyrodis Webber by orthogonal layout methods. Herein the order of effects of nutrient components on mycelial growth was tryptone > Ca2+ > soluble starch > folacin, corresponding to the following optimal concentrations: 1.58 percent Soluble Starch, 3.16 percent Tryptone, 0.2 mmol l-1 Ca2+ and 0.005 percent Folacin. The optimal concentration of each factors for sporulation was 1.16 percent lactose, 0.394 percent tryptone, 0.4 mmol l-1 Fe2+ and 0.00125 percent V B1, and the effects of medium components on sporulation were found to be in the order lactose > V B1 > Fe2+ > tryptone. Under the optimal culture conditions, the maximum production of mycelial growth achieved 20.05 g l-1 after 7 days of fermentation, while the maximum spore yield reached 5.23 ×10(10) spores l-1 after 22 days of cultivation. This is the first report on optimization of nutritional requirements and design of simplified semi-synthetic media for mycelial growth and sporulation of A. aleyrodis.

O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar as exigências nutricionais ótimas para o crescimento micelial e esporulação do fungo entomopatogênico Aschersonia aleyrodis Webber. A ordem dos efeitos dos nutrientes na multiplicação micelial foi triptona>Ca2+>amido solúvel>folacina, com as seguintes concentrações ótimas: amido solúvel 1,58 por cento, tritona 3,16 por cento, Ca2+ 0,2mmol.l-1 e folacina 0,005 por cento. Para a esporulação, a concentração ótima de cada fator foi: lactose 1,16 por cento, triptona 0,394 por cento, Fe2+ 0,4mmol.l-1 e V B1 0,00125 por cento, na seguinte ordem: lactose> V B1> Fe2+>tritona. Em condições ótimas de cultura, a produção máxima de micélio foi 20,05g.l-1 após 7 dias de fermentação, enquanto o rendimento máximo de esporos foi 5,23 x 10(10) esporos.l-1 após 22 dias de cultivo. Esse é o primeiro relato sobre otimização das exigências nutricionais e desenvolvimento de meio de cultura semi-sintético para crescimento micelial e esporulação de A. aleyrodis.

Isolation and characterization of a chitinase gene from entomopathogenic fungus Verticillium lecanii / Isolamento e caracterização de um gene de quitinase do fungo entomopatogênico Verticillium lecanii

Entomopathogenic fungus Verticillium lecanii is a promising whitefly and aphid control agent. Chitinases secreted by this insect pathogen have considerable importance in the biological control of some insect pests. An endochitinase gene Vlchit1 from the fungus was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The Vlchit1 gene not only contains an open reading frame (ORF) which encodes a protein of 423 amino acids (aa), but also is interrupted by three short introns. A homology modelling of Vlchit1 protein showed that the chitinase Vlchit1 has a (α/β)8 TIM barrel structure. Overexpression test and Enzymatic activity assay indicated that the Vlchit1 is a functional enzyme that can hydrolyze the chitin substrate, so the Vlchit1 gene can service as a useful gene source for genetic manipulation leading to strain improvement of entomopathogenic fungi or constructing new transgenic plants with resistance to various fungal and insects pests.

O fungo entomopatogênico Verticillium lecanii é um agente promissor no controle da mosca-branca e do pulgão. As quitinases secretadas por esse patógeno de insetos têm uma grande importância no controle biológico de doenças causadas por insetos. Um gene de endoquitinase Vlchit1 desse fungo foi clonado e expresso em Escherichia coli. O gene Vlchit contém não apenas um ORF que codifica uma proteína de 423 aminoácidos, mas também é interrompido por três pequenos introns. A modelagem de homologia da proteína Vlchit1indicou que a quitinase Vlchit1 tem uma estrutura (α/β) 8 TIM barrel. Testes de expressão e de atividade enzimática indicaram que Vlchit1 é uma enzima funcional que hidroliza quitina, portanto o gene Vlchit pode ser um gene útil para manipulação genética para melhoramento de cepas de fungos entomopatogênicos ou para a construção de novas plantas transgênicas com resistência a várias doenças causadas por fungos e insetos.

Juxtaglomerular cell tumor(report of 2 cases and review of the literature) / 中华泌尿外科杂志

Objective To improve the diagnosis accuracy and treatment quality of juxtaglomerular cell tumor.Methods The clinical data of 2 female patients(20 and 36 years,respectively)with juxtaglo- merular cell tumor were presented and discussed in combination with review of the literature,including the onset characteristics,imaging features,treatment,pathology and prognosis.Case 1 presented with hyperten- sion of 180/110 mm Hg.The laboratory examinations showed that in decubitus and standing position,the plasma rennin activity(PRA)was 3.2?g - L~(-1)?h~(-1)and 36.5?g?L~(-1)?h~(-1);angiotensinⅡwas 54.3 pg/ml and 183.5 pg/ml;aldosterone was 193.5 prnol/L and 489.4 pmol/L,respectively;serum kalium was 2.6 mmol/L.Case 2 presented with hypertension of 210/120 mm Hg.The laboratory examination results were as follows:in decubitus and standing position,PRA was 4.3?g?L~(-1)?h~(-1)and 37.0?g?L~(-1)?h~(-1);angio- teusinⅡwas 55.6 pg/ml and 200.4 pg/ml;aldosterone was 162.4 pmol/L and 506.3 pmol/L,respectively; serum kalium was 3.0 mmol/L.On CT scan,both cases had renal tumor,with the diameter of 3.0 cm and 3. 5 cm,respectively.Results Case 1 underwent laparoscopic partial nephrectomy.Case 2 who had artery stricture and severe functional injure of the right kidney underwent laparoscopic right nephrectomy.The oper- ative time was 3.0 h and 2.0 h,and the blood loss was 175 ml and 112 ml,respectively.There was no mor- tality or postoperative complication.In 1 or 2 postoperative weeks,Case 1 had blood pressure(BP)of 120/70 mm Hg;in deeubitus and standing position,PRA was 1.5?g ~ L~(-1)?b~(-1)and 12.8?g?L~(-1)?h~(-1);angio- tensinⅡwas 30.6 pg/ml and 97.5 pg/ml;aldosterone was 78.5 pmol/L and 192.2 pmol/L,respectively ;se- rum kalium was 4.2 mmol/L.Case 2 had BP of 125/75 mm Hg;in decubitus and standing position,PRA was 1.6?g.L~(-1)?h~(-1)and 12.3?g.L~(-1)?h(-1);angiotensinⅡwas 34.3 pg/ml and 83.5 pg/ml;aldoste- rone was 62.6 pmol/L and 292.5 pmol/L,respectively;serum kalium was 4.8 mmol/L.Pathology showed that the juxtaglomerular cell tumor had intact envelop.Light microscopically,the tumor was very much like a hemangiopericytoma,showing active proliferation and nuclear atypia.The immunohistochemical staining showed positive Vimentin,CD_(34)expression,and negative MSA,EMA,Bcl-2,?-SmA,AG/AG3,34?En, CD_(117),CD_(31),Iv glue,Ki-G~-(＜2%)expression.Ultrastructural changes of the nuclei and some organelles in the cytoplasm were observed under electron microscope.The conspicuous ultrastructural feature was the pres- ence of secretion granules and rhomboid-shaped,crystal-like structures in the dilated cisternae of rough endo- plasmic reticulum and vesicles of Golgi complex.The follow-up was 14 and 6 months,respectively;the renal function was normal and no tumor recurrence was found.Conelusions Juxtaglomerular cell tumor is a rare tumor which can produce renin.It is characterized by severe hypertension and low serum potassium.La- boratory examination results are helpful for the diagnosis:PRA and angiotensinⅡincrease obviously ;aldoste- rone is 1-10 times more than normal;serum kalium is commonly between 2.1-3.5 mmol/L.The definite diagnosis depends on clinical presentations,immunohistochemistry,light and electron microscopic examina- tions.Laparoscopie operation is the first choice of surgical treatment.