Effect on therapeutic effect of inducing the formation of the post-moxibustion sore for bronchial asthma / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the impact of inducing the formation of the post-moxibustion sore on the efficacy of bronchial asthma treated with scarring moxibustion.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three hundred and seventy-two cases diag nosed definitely as bronchial asthma at remission stage were randomly divided into a modified nursing group (248 cases) and a conventional nursing group (124 cases). The scarring moxibustion was applied at Dazhui (GV 14), Feishu (BL 13), Danzhong (CV 17) and Tiantu (CV 22) in either group. The direct moxibustion with moxa cone was adopted. In modified nursing group, 0.5% Iodine was used for the sterilization at moxa abscess. The herbal plaster was cut into an inverted triangle and compressed on the wound. After suppuration, the fester was not cleaned in each dressing change. Additionally, the patients were advised to have high-protein diets after moxibus tion till abscess dropped. In conventional nursing group, 0.5% Iodine was used for the sterilization at moxa abscess. The herbal plaster was cut into a round shape that could cover completely the moxa wound. After suppuration, in each dressing change, the wound was cleaned and sterilized. Additionally, the patients were advised to avoid any stimulating food after moxibustion till abscess dropped. The clinical efficacy, the change of C3 content in blood serum and the clinical symptom score were observed in two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was 93.5% (232/248) in modified nursing group, which was better than 79.0% (98/124) in conventional nursing group (P < 0.01). C3 content increased apparently after treatment as compared with that before treatment in either group (both P < 0.01), but C3 level increased much more apparently in modified nursing group as compared with that in conventional nursing group (P < 0.01). The clinical symptom score reduced apparently after treatment in either group (both P < 0.01), but that reduced much more apparently in modified nursing group as compared with that in conventional nursing group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In the treatment of bronchial asthma with scarring moxibustion, to induce the formation of the post-moxibustion sore achieves the better clinical efficacy as compared with conventional nursing.</p>

Association of TNF-alpha-238G/A and 308 G/A gene polymorphisms with pulmonary tuberculosis among patients with coal worker's pneumoconiosis / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) may play an important role in host's immune response to mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) infection. This study was to investigate the association of TNF-alpha gene polymorphism with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) among patients with coal worker's pneumoconiosis (CWP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A case-control study was conducted in 113 patients with confirmed CWP complicated with pulmonary TB and 113 non-TB controls with CWP. They were matched in gender, age, job, and stage of pneumoconiosis. All participants were interviewed with questionnaires and their blood specimens were collected for genetic determination with informed consent. The TNF-alpha gene polymorphism was determined with polymerase chain reaction of restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Frequency of genotypes was assessed for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium by chi-square test or Fisher's exact probability. Factors influencing the association of individual susceptibility with pulmonary TB were evaluated with logistic regression analysis. Gene-environment interaction was evaluated by a multiplicative model with combined OR. All data were analyzed using SAS version 8.2 software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No significant difference in frequency of the TNF-alpha-308 genotype was found between CWP complicated with pulmonary TB and non-TB controls (chi2 = 5.44, P = 0.07). But difference in frequency of the TNF-alpha-308 A allele was identified between them (chi2 = 5.14, P = 0.02). No significant difference in frequencies of the TNF-alpha-238 genotype and allele (P = 0.23 and P = 0.09, respectively) was found between cases and controls either, with combined (GG and AA) OR of 3.96 (95% confidence interval of 1.30-12.09) at the -308 locus of the TNF-alpha gene, as compared to combination of the TNF-alpha-238 GG and TNF-alpha-308 GG genotypes. Multivariate-adjusted odds ratio of the TNF-alpha-238 GG and TNF-alpha-308 GA genotypes was 1.98 (95% CI of 1.06-3.71) for risk for pulmonary TB in patients with CWP. There was a synergic interaction between the TNF-alpha-308 GG genotype and body mass index (OR = 4.92), as well as an interaction between the TNF-alpha-308 GG genotype and history of BCG immunization or history of TB exposure. And, the interaction of the TNF-alpha-238 GG genotype and history of BCG immunization or TB exposure with risk for pulmonary TB in them was also indicated.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>TNF-alpha-308 A allele is associated with an elevated risk for pulmonary TB, whereas TNF-alpha-238 A allele was otherwise.</p>

Study on the association of INT4 and 3'UTR polymorphism of natural-resistance-associated macrophage protein 1 gene with susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association between natural-resistance-associated macrophage protein 1 (NRAMP1) gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in Han nationality from Northern part of China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A 1:1 matched case-control study was adopted. Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism technique were used to type the two NRAMP1 polymorphisms: INT4 and 3'UTR. Information on environmental-related risk factors and pathological changes of tuberculosis was collected using a pre-tested standard questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate conditional logistic analyses were conducted using SPSS for window software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A sample consisting 124 pairs of cases and controls was studied. Univariate analysis demonstrated that the 3'UTR TGTG+/del genotype occurred more frequently in the cases than in the controls, with crude OR (95% CI) being 2.923 (1.557 - 5.487). No significant association was observed between TB and INT4 polymorphism. In multivariate analysis, associations of TB and 3'UTR TGTG+/del genotype remained, after adjusting for scar of bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine, marriage status, body mass index and exposure history. Adjusted OR (95% CI) was 2.955 (1.369 - 6.381). Again, no significant association between INT4 polymorphism and TB was found. Among different INT4 genotypes, the pathological characters of pulmonary tuberculosis were also found different (chi(2) = 9.634, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Polymorphism of 3'UTR locus in NRAMP1 gene might affect their susceptibility to TB in Han nationality living in the northern part of China, and polymorphism of INT4 might affect the pathological characters of tuberculosis.</p>