ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the expression of MIF in PBMC, sera and lacrimal fluid samples in patients with AD, and study the diagnostic significance of MIF in AD. Methods Forty-three AD patients (11 mild AD patients,23 moderate AD patients, 9 severe AD patients classfied by SCORAD index)and 31 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects were recruited. Real-time RT-PCR was employed to analyze the expression of MIF mRNA in PBMC. ELISA was performed to detect the concentrations of MIF in sera and lacrimal fluid samples. Results AD patients had significantly higher levels of MIF mRNA in PBMC than normal controls [7.46 (3.38-8.90) vs 1.67 ( 1.24-2.45 ), Z=-6.141, P ＜ 0.05]. The concentrations of MIF in sera and lacrimal fluid samples in AD patients were also markedly higher than those of normal controls [serum 36. 32( 11.89-43.80) μg/L vs 7.89(6.13-9.54) μg/L, Z = -6.180,P <0.05; lacrimal fluid 12.66(2.01-20.12) μg/L vs 0.85(0.77-1.06) μg/L, Z = -4.118,P <0.05]. MIF mRNA levels were 2.35 ( 2.12-2.49 ) , 7.83 ( 6. 54-8.90 ) and 8.76 ( 8.22-9.73 ) in mild, moderate and severe AD respectively, and the expression was higher in moderate and severe AD than in normal controls (Z= -6.237, -4.520,P ＜0.05). MIF serum concentrations were 8.98(7.90-10.51) μg/L, 36.50 (29.78-43.23) μg/L and 45.70(41.27-48. 84) μg/L in mild, moderate and severe AD respectively, and the differences were significant in moderate and severe AD compared to normal controls ( Z = - 6.238,- 4.521, P < 0.05 ). The lacrimal fluid MIF oncentrations were 1.10 ( 0.83-1.35 ) μg/L, 12.66 ( 9.76-15.87) μg/L and 24. 65 ( 19.29-30.94) μg/L in mild, moderate and severe AD respectively. Similarly,they increased significantly in moderate and severe AD compared to normal controls (Z = -4.062,- 3.372, P ＜ 0.05 ). In moderate and severe AD, MIF mRNA levels in PBMCs and MIF concentrations in sera and lacrimal fluid samples were all positively correlated with the severity of AD ( r = 0.395, 0.404,0.515, P < 0.05 ). Conclusions The expression of MIF in PBMCs, sera and lacrimal fluid samples is higher in different course of AD. MIF can serve as a useful laboratory parameter for evaluation of AD activity and severity.
ABSTRACT
The article introduced the structure and therapeutic mechanism of the iontherapy vacuum cup with Chinese herbs on acupoints by impulse direct current. The apparatus is an organic mixture by combining iontherapy of physiotherapy in modern medicine with cupping therapy, Chinese herbs, and acu-therapy in traditional Chinese medicine. It has the advantages of lower cost, simple operation and reliable effects, and is a new approach of physiotherapy.