The prognostic relationship between CD56 expression and newly diagnosed multiple myeloma / 中华内科杂志

Objective:To evaluate the prognostic value of CD56 expression in newly diagnosed MM (NDMM).Methods:A total of 332 NDMM patients were enrolled in Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 1, 2011 to January 1, 2021, with a median age of 60 years and a male to female ratio of 1.2∶1. CD56 expression on myeloma cells was detected by flow cytometry before induction therapy. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) data were collected. In order to reduce the confounding factors, the propensity score matching technique was used to match CD56 positive versus negative patients at a ratio of 1∶1.Results:Among 332 patients, CD56 positivity rate was 65.1% (216/332). Patients with CD56 expression had significantly longer median OS (58.4 vs. 43.1 months, P=0.024) and PFS (28.7 vs. 24.1 months, P=0.013) than those with negative CD56. Univariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses showed that CD56 expression was positively correlated with OS ( HR=0.644, 95 %CI 0.438-0.947, P=0.025) and a favorable prognostic factor for PFS ( HR=0.646, 95 %CI 0.457-0.913, P=0.013). The favorable effect of CD56 expression on PFS was confirmed in multivariate analysis ( HR=0.705, 95 %CI 0.497-0.998, P=0.049), but OS was not affected ( P>0.05).In the propensity score matching analysis, 194 patients with 97 in each group were identified. CD56 positivity consistently predicted longer PFS (34.2 vs.25.1 months, P=0.047), but not OS (63.4 vs.43.1 months, P=0.056). Conclusion:These results demonstrate that CD56 expression is a favorable prognostic factor for PFS of newly diagnosed MM patients.

Comparison of two methods for the determination of sucrose octasulfate concentration in irinotecan hydrochloride liposomes / 药学学报

HPLC-RID and HPIC-CD methods were established for the determination of sucrose octasulfate content in irinotecan hydrochloride liposomes for injection. HPLC-RID: This method was performed on a Kromasil 100-5-NH2 column (250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm) with a mobile phase of 0.8 mol·L-1 ammonium sulfate buffer (pH 3.5)-acetonitrile (83∶17). The flow rate, column temperature and detector temperature were maintained at 1 mL·min-1, 30 ℃ and 30 ℃ respectively. HPIC-CD: This method was performed on an anion exchange column Dionex InPacTM AS11-HC (250 mm×4 mm, 9 μm) with an eluent of 30 mmol·L-1 sodium hydroxide solution. The flow rate was 1.5 mL·min-1, the column temperature was 30 ℃ and the detector temperature was 35 ℃. The HPLC-RID method and HPIC-CD method were validated with respects to specificity, limit of detection, limit of quantitation, linearity, precision, accuracy, stability and robustness and met the validation requirements. There were no significant differences between the HPIC-CD and HPLC-RID methods according to T-test analysis, both of which were applicable for the measurement of sucrose octasulfate concentration in irinotecan hydrochloride liposomes for injection. However, the HPLC-CD was better at the following aspects: higher detection sensitivity, simpler sample pretreatment, lower time and money spent, better environmental protection.

Improved effects of saponins from Panax japonicus on decline of cognitive function in natural aging rats via NLRP3 inflammasome pathway / 中国中药杂志

The aim of this paper was to investigate the effect of total saponins from Panax japonicus( SPJ) on cognitive decline of natural aging rats and its mechanism. Thirty male SD rats of eighteen month old were randomly divided into three groups: aged group,10 mg·kg~(-1) SPJ-treated group and 30 mg·kg~(-1) SPJ-treated group. The SPJ-treated groups were given SPJ at the dosages of 10 mg·kg~(-1) and 30 mg·kg~(-1),respectively,from the age of 18 to 24 months. Aged group were lavaged the same amount of saline,10 six-month-old rats were used as control group,with 10 rats in each group. The open field test,novel object recognition and Morris water maze were performed to detect the changes of cognitive function in each group. The changes of synaptic transmission of long-term potentiation( LTP) in hippocampal CA1 region were detected by field potential recording. Western blot was used to detect the protein levels of NLRP3,ASC,caspase-1 and the changes of Glu A1,Glu A2,CAMKⅡ,CREB and phosphorylation of CAMKⅡ,CREB in each group.The results showed that SPJ could improve the decline of cognitive function in aging rats,reduce the damage of LTP in the hippocampal CA1 region of aged rats,and decrease the expression of NLRP3,ASC,caspase-1 in aging rats. At the same time,SPJ could enhance the membrane expression of AMPA receptor( Glu A1 and Glu A2),and increase the expression of p-CAMKⅡand p-CREB in aging rats.SPJ could improve cognitive decline of natural aging rats,and its mechanism may be related to regulating NLRP3 inflammasome,thus regulating the membrane expression of AMPA receptor,and enhancing the expression phosphorylation of CAMKⅡ and CREB.

Scientific research on selection of medicinal herbs of Chloranthaceae based on materia medica theory / 中国中药杂志

The plants of Chloranthaceae are widely distributed and rich in resources in our country, records of ancient herbs indicaded that various species of plants of Chloranthaceae can be used for medicinal purposes, especially the Sarcandra glabra which with the least toxicity and possessed the function of clearing heat and cooling blood, activating blood to eliminate spots and removing wind and dredging collaterals. Based on the theory of herbage and by the method of consulting the past herbal literature, we summarized and analyzed the medicinal history, distribution characteristics of herbage geography, characteristics of herbage ecology, standard collection situation and the modern toxicology research of Chloranthaceae plants. Therefore we explained the scientificity for selection of medicinal herbs of Chloranthaceae plants, and provided a theoretical and scientific basis for further research of Chloranthaceae plants.

Stationary Treatment Compared with Individualized Chinese Medicine for Type 2 Diabetes Patients with Microvascular Complications: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial / 中国结合医学杂志

BACKGROUND@#Microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes (T2DM), including diabatic retinopathy (DR), diabetic kidney disease (DKD), diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) are the leading causes of visual loss, end-stage renal disease or amputation, while the current therapies are still unsatisfactory. Chinese medicine (CM) has been widely used for treating diabetic mellitus. However, most of the previous studies focused on the single complication. The role of CM treatment in T2DM patients with 2 or multiple microvascular complications is not clear.@*OBJECTIVE@#To appraise the curative effect of CM in T2DM patients with 2 or multiple microvascular complications, and to compare the effects of stationary treatment and individualized treatment in T2DM patients with microvascular complications.@*METHODS@#This trial will be an 8-center, randomized, controlled study with 8 parallel groups. A total of 432 patients will be randomized to 8 groups: DR study group (32 cases) and a corresponding control group (32 cases), DR+DKD study group (64 cases) and a corresponding control group (64 cases), DR+DPN study group (64 cases) and a corresponding control group (64 cases), DR+DKD+DPN study group (56 cases) and a corresponding control group (56 cases). The control group will receive stationary treatment, and the study group will receive individualized treatment based on CM syndrome differentiation in addition to stationary treatment. The study duration will be 50 weeks, comprising a 2-week run-in period, 24 weeks of intervention, and 24 weeks of follow-up. The outcomes will assess efficacy of treatment, improvement in CM symptoms, safety assessments, adherence to the treatment, and adverse events.@*CONCLUSION@#This study will provide evidence of evidence-based medicine for CM treatment in two or multiple microvascular complications caused by T2DM. (Registration No. ChiCTR-IPR-15007072).

Progress in catechins oxidation products and their formation mechanism / 中国中药杂志

Catechins are the key components of tea and have a great impact on its quality. Catechins can be oxidized to form a new black tea polyphenols, some of which have better pharmacological effect. However, the formation mechanism of these new polyphenols is still unclear. In this paper, oxidation products coming from catechins and the formation mechanism of the new compounds are reviewed.It is the base of further study on theaflavins, thearubigins and theabrownines.

Study on commercial specification of Gardenia jasminoides / 中国中药杂志

Collecting different commodity grade Gardenia jasminoides of wild and cultivated varieties all over the country, obtaining color information from each batch of G. jasminoides by the standard D65 light source and image acquisition system, quantifing the gardenia plumpness information by the digital display vernier caliper, determinating 6 kinds of effective components of G. jasminoides by HPLC, classifing from ten indicators by two step clustering analysis and correspondence analysis method of statistics, clearing the importance of the traditional identification indexes, establishing multiple corresponding relation between the skin color and commercial specification of G. jasminoides,exploring the correlation of the skin color and chemical composition, to provide the reference for the reasonable division of commercial specifications and grades of G. jasminoides. Medicine is divided into two classes and has obvious distinguish meaning, The importance of the skin color is greater than the plumpness in traditional identification characteristics, it can accurately distinguish the specifications of G. jasminoides. We improve and rebuild the standard of commodity specifications and grades of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis and establish the rapid evaluation method by the study, it provide a new way and idea for the comprehensive evaluation of G. jasminoides quality.

Study on ecological suitability of Gardenia jasminoides based on ArcGIS and Maxent model / 中国中药杂志

The application of ArcGIS and Maxent modelto analyze the ecological suitability of Gardenia jasminoides.Taking 85 batches of Gardenia as the basis of analysis, the selection of ecological factors for the growth of Gardenia. The results showed that the average precipitation in April, the average precipitation in November and the average precipitation in August were the most important factors affecting the growth of Gardenia. The relative concentration of Gardenia suitable growth region,north to the south of Shaanxi province, south of Henan, central Anhui, south to the north of Hainan province, west to central Sichuan province, east of Zhejiang coastal area, northeast of Taiwan.

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and smoldering multiple myeloma: biological insights and early treatment strategies / 白血病·淋巴瘤

Researches on monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and smoldering muhiple myeloma (SMM) are at a low level although their incidence is high.This review discusses curent biological insights in MGUS/SMM and discusses how the integration of novel biological markers,molecular imaging,and clinical monitoring of MGUS/SMM could facilitate the development of early treatment strategies for high-risk SMM (early myeloma) patients in the future.

Update of novel agents in treating relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma / 白血病·淋巴瘤

The treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma has always been a problem among hematologic malignant tumor treatment.Compared with the initial therapy,there are worse therapeutic effects and more affecting factors of selecting treatment since the existence of drug resistance in relapsed myeloma.In this review,the therapeutic effects of single and combinational use of several novel agents such as thalidomide,lenalidomide and bortezomib were evaluated in treating relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma.The clinical results of some new anti-myeloma agents were also reported.

Genetic basis and risk stratication of multiple myeloma / 白血病·淋巴瘤

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a heterogeneous disease.The prognosis of MM varied a lot among different patients.One of the main basis of risk stratification is genetic abnormality,which including the number or structure anomaly of chromosomes,genetic aberrations,signaling pathway disorders and epigenetic changes.The risk stratification is being revised with the development of FISH,gene-expression profiling and next-generation sequencing.These combined approaches would hopefully transform the current one-for-all care into a more tailored,individual therapeutic strategy for MM patients and would finally improve their quality of lives.

The effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide on collagen accumulation in pulmonary arteries of rats with hypoxic pulmonary arterial hypertension / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on pulmonary vascular collagen accumulation in hypoxia rats in order to study the effect of CGRP on hypoxic pulmonary vascular structural remodeling and its possible mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rats were acclimated for 1 week, and then were randomly divided into three groups: normoxia group, hypoxia group, and hypoxia plus capsaicin group. Pulmonary arterial hypertension was induced by hypoxia in rats. Hypoxia plus capsaicin group, rats were given capsaicin (50 mg/(kg x d), s.c) 4 days before hypoxia to deplete endogenous CGRP. Hypoxia (3% O2) stimulated proliferation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and proliferation was measured by BrdU marking. The expression levels of CGRP, phosphorylated ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/ 2), collagen I and collagen III were detected by real-time PCR or Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Right ventricle systolic pressure (RVSP) and mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) rats induced by hypoxia were higher than those of normoxia rats. By HE and Masson staining, it was demonstrated that hypoxia also significantly induced hypertrophy of pulmonary arteries and increased level of collagen accumulation. Hypoxia dramatically decreased the CGRP level and increased the expression of p-ERK1/2, collagen I, collagen III in pulmonary arteries. All these effects of hypoxia were further aggravated by pre-treatment of rats with capsaicin. CGRP concentration-dependently inhibited hypoxia-induced proliferation of PASMCs, markedly decreased the expression of p-ERK1/2, collagen I and collagen III. All these effects of CGRP were abolished in the presence of CGRP8-37.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These results suggest that CGRP might inhibit hypoxia-induced PAH and pulmonary vascular remodeling, through inhibiting phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and alleviating the collagen accumulation of pulmonary arteries.</p>

Applied Anatomy of the Femoral Veins in Macaca fascicularis / Anatomía Aplicada de las Venas Femorales en Macaca fascicularis

The aim was to understand the anatomical features of the venous valve in Macaca fascicularis and to compare it with that of humans. The bilateral lower limbs (24 limbs from 12 animals) of Macaca fascicularis cadavers were dissected, and the femoral veins (FVs) were equally divided into distal, intermediate, and proximal sections. The external diameter of the FV in each section was measured. The venous valves were observed microscopically and stained with hematoxylin and eosin as well as trichrome. Data describing the human venous valve were collected from the current literature. No great saphenous veins were found among the 24 lower limbs from the Macaca fascicularis cadavers. The external diameters of the FVs in the distal, intermediate, and proximal sections were 3.53 ± 0.37 mm, 3.42 ± 0.55 mm, and 3.37 ± 0.54 mm, respectively. In most cases, there was one venous bivalve located in the FV approximately 0-2.71 mm below the junction of the FV and the deep femoral vein. Endothelium covered the luminal and sinusal surfaces of the leaflets. Abundant collagen fibers were found under the endothelial cells beneath the luminal surface of the leaflets. An elastin fiber network was located under the sinus endothelial surface. Smooth muscle cells in the FV extend to the edge of the valve. The venous valve of Macaca fascicularis is similar to that of humans, both morphologically and histologically. However, there is only one venous bivalve and no great saphenous vein in Macaca fascicularis.

El objetivo fue comprender las características anatómicas de la válvula venosa en Macaca fascicularis y compararla con la de los humanos. Fueron disecados bilateralmente los miembros pélvicos (24 miembros de 12 animales) de cadáveres de Macaca fascicularis; las venas femorales (VF) fueron divididas en secciones distal, media y proximal. Se midió el diámetro externo de las VFs en cada sección. Las válvulas venosas se observaron microscópicamente y se tiñeron con H-E y tricrómico. Los datos para describir la válvula venosa humana se obtuvieron desde la literatura. No se encontraron venas safenas magnas entre los 24 miembros inferiores. Los diámetros externos de las VFs en las secciones distal, media y proximal fueron 3,53±0,37 mm, 3,42 mm±0,55, y 3,37±0,54 mm, respectivamente. En la mayoría de los casos, hubo vena bivalva situada aproximadamente 0-2,71 mm debajo de la unión de la VF y la vena femoral profunda. El endotelio cubrió las superficies luminal y sinusal. Se observaron abundantes fibras de colágeno en las células endoteliales bajo la superficie luminal de las válvulas. Una red de fibras de elastina se encontró bajo la superficie del seno endotelial. Las células musculares lisas en las VFs se extiendían hasta el margen de la válvula. La válvula venosa del Macaca fascicularis es similar a la de los seres humanos, morfológica e histológicamente. Sin embargo, sólo hubo una vena bivalvular, y no se observaron venas safenas en Macaca fascicularis.

Prevention and treatment of thrombosis in multiple myeloma patients / 白血病·淋巴瘤

The incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in multiple myeloma patients is higher than that of normal population. In this review, recent advances about thrombosis in multiple myeloma are studied,including the mechanism,risk factors,therapy and prevention of thrombosis.

Comparison of the clinical therapeutic effects between electroacupuncture and warming needle moxibustion for knee osteoarthritis of kidney deficiency and marrow insufficiency pattern/syndrome / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the actions of electroacupuncture (EA) and the warming needle moxibustion on knee osteoarthritis (KOA) of kidney deficiency and marrow insufficiency pattern/syndrome and compare the clinical effects between these two therapies.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-four cases of KOA were randomly divided into an electroacupuncture (EA) group and a warming needle moxibustion (WNM) group, 37 cases in each one. The acupoints were Dubi (ST 35), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Xuehai (SP 10), Zusanli (ST 36), Yanglingquan (GB 34), etc. In EA group, electric stimulation was given, 5 Hz, continuous wave. In the WNM group, warm needling technique was applied, 2 moxa cones on each acupoint in each time, three treatments a week. Totally, 4 weeks of treatment were required. The indicaices such as WOMAC score, illness severity index and systematic efficacy were adopted to evaluate the efficacy before treatment, 1 session and 2 sessions after treatment separately.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The treatment in either group achieved the effectiveness. The cured and markedly effective rate was 64.7% (22/34) in EA group and was 40.0% (14/35) in WNM group, presenting statistically significant difference in comparison (P < 0.05). But the total effective rate did not indicate significance (P > 0.05). In EA group, the releasing effect of joint pain was obvious (P < 0.01). In the WNM group, the treatment was more advantageous at relieving joint stiffness (P < 0.01). There was no difference in the mean curative time between two groups (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Electroacupuncture and the warming needle moxibustion have their own advantages in the treatment of KOA of kidney deficiency and marrow insufficiency pattern/syndrome. Electroacupuncture is advantageous at analgesia and the warming needle moxibustion is at relieving joint stiffness. The total efficacy of electroacupuncture is superior to that of the warming needle moxibustion.</p>

Comparative research on effect of warm needling therapy on pulmonary function and life quality of patients with COPD in the stable phase / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the stable phase treated with warm needling therapy and Seretide. To make the comparison of improvements between two therapies in terms of the clinical symptoms and life quality.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty cases were randomly divided into a warm needling group and a Seretide group, 30 cases in each one. In warm needling group, acupuncture with filiform needle was applied mainly to Dingchuan (EX-B 1), Feishu (BL 13) and Zusanli (ST 36). Warm needling therapy was supplemented on back-shu point and Zusanli (ST 36), once every other day, thrice each week. In Seretide group, Seretide inhalant was applied, one inhalation, 2 times each day. After 8-week treatment, the changes in pulmonary function such as forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), clinical symptoms, and the score of St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) were observed in two groups and the comparison of them was conducted between groups and within each group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The pulmonary function indices such as FEV1 were all improved effectively in two groups (all P < 0.05). After 4-week treatment, the improvement in respiratory symptoms was superior in Seretide group as compared with warm needling group (P < 0.05). In terms of the improvement in general symptoms such as chills and fever, the result in warm needling group was better than that in Seretide group (P < 0.05). The efficacies were similar between two groups in 8-week treatment. Concerning to the improvement of life quality, the result in warm needling group was slightly better than that in Seretide group (the improvement value 12.8413.43 vs 10.21 +/- 3.89, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Warm needling therapy improves the pulmonary function of the patients with COPD in the stable phase, releases clinical symptoms and improves life quality. Its effects are similar to those of Seretide.</p>

Impact of acupoint heat-sensitive moxibustion on lung function and life quality of patients with chronic persistent bronchial asthma: a randomized controlled study / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the impact of heat-sensitive moxibustion on lung function in chronic persistent bronchial asthma and analyze its effect on the improvement of life quality as well as compare its efficacy with Seretide inhaler.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-seven cases were divided into a heat-sensitive moxibustion group (28 cases) and a Seretide group (29 cases) according to the random number table. In heat-sensitive moxibustion group, the therapy of heat-sensitive moxibustion was applied to the regions at the level of Feishu (BL 13) and Geshu (BL 17), or to the heat-sensitized points in the region 6 cun lateral from the 1st and 2nd intercostal spaces in the chest. The treatment was given continuously for 8 days, once per day, 12 treatments should be ensured in the later 22 days of the 1st month. In the later two months since then, 15 treatments should be ensured each month (< or = 1 treatment each day). In Seretide group, Seritide manufactured in GlaxoSmithKLine was used, one inhalation each time, twice per day. The cases in both groups were received treatment for 3 months. The changes in lung function such as forced expiratory volume one second (FEV1), TCM symptoms score, Asthma Control Test (ACT) and St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) were assessed and compared between two groups and within group separately.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Lung function as FEV1 was improved in either group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The terminal improvement effects on symptoms of Chinese medicine, life quality and others were same between two groups (all P > 0.05). But the improvements in general situation, chills, fever and sweating in heat-sensitive moxibustion group were superior to those in Seretide group (both P < 0.05). Concerning to the improvement in respiratory symptoms, the effect of Seretide was better than that of heat-sensitive moxibustion (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Heat-sensitive moxibustion improves lung function, relieves clinical symptoms and benefits life quality for patients with chronic persistent bronchial asthma. It's efficacy on the disease is equal to the internationally-recognized effect of Seretide.</p>

Effect of electro-acupuncture on tumor necrosis factor-α and vascular endothelial growth factor in peripheral blood and joint synovia of patients with rheumatoid arthritis / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in peripheral blood and joint synovia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to verify the clinical efficacy of EA.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Adopting randomized controlled principle, the 63 RA patients enrolled were assigned to two groups, the 32 patients in the EA group were treated with EA, and the 31 patients in the simple needling (SN) group treated with simple needling. According to the integral-local combining method, the acupoints were selected mainly from yang-meridian and local Ashi points (pain-point). EA or SN was applied every other day, 10 times as a course, and each patient received a total of 3 courses of treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Blood and synovial levels of TNF-α and VEGF were reduced significantly after treatment in both groups. The lowering (absolute value and difference value) of TNF-α as well as the absolute value of VEGF, either in blood or in synovia, were similar in the two groups (P>0.05); but the lowering of VEGF after treatment was more significant in the EA group than that in the SN group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EA could effectively lower the contents of TNF-α and VEGF in peripheral blood and joint synovia to improve the internal environment for genesis and development of RA, so as to enhance the clinical therapeutic effectiveness.</p>

Effects of electroacupuncture and simple acupuncture on changes of IL-1, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 in peripheral blood and joint fluid in patients with rheumatoid arthritis / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture on rheumatoid arthritis (RA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In a randomized and controlled trial, sixty-three cases with RA were randomly divided into an electroacupuncture group (n = 32) and a simple acupuncture group (n = 31). Baihui (GV 20), Fengchi (GB 20), Quchi (LI 11), Waiguan (TE 5), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Zusanli (ST 36) were selected by coordination method combined whole and local acupoints. The electroacupuncture group was treated with electroacupuncture at the local acupoints near painful joints, continuous wave, retaining needle for 30 minutes, and then electroacupuncture at Back-shu acupoints, retaining needle for 15 minutes, and the simple acupuncture group was treated with the same acupoints selection and acupuncture manipulation without electroacupuncture apparatus. They were all treated once every other day for 20 days as one course. After 3 courses, changes of interleukins in peripheral blood and joint fluid of patients were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Both of electroacupuncture and simple acupuncture had significant effect on IL-1, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 in peripheral blood and joint fluid of patients with RA ( P < 0.01, P < 0.05). But after electroacupuncture, the absolute value and improvement value of decreasing IL-1 in peripheral blood and joint fluid were super than those of simple acupuncture (all P < 0.05), and of IL-4 in joint fluid was super than that after simple acupuncture (P < 0.05), and of IL-6 and the absolute value of decreasing IL-10 were almost the same after both treatment (all P > 0.05), and after electroacupuncture, the improvement value of IL-10 in peripheral blood and joint fluid were super than those after simple acupuncture (both P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Electroacupuncture can effectively decrease the proinflammatory cytokine of IL-1 and IL-6 and increase the inhibition cytokine of IL-4 and IL-10 and improve the internal environment of occurrence and progression of RA.</p>

Association of CALCA genetic polymorphism with essential hypertension / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is the predominant neurotransmitter in capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves. Participation of CGRP in hypertension is one of the most extensively studied topics in the field. There is growing evidence to the effect that CGRP is associated with essential hypertension (EH). The aims of this study were to pinpoint whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genes coding for CALCA were associated with EH susceptibility in a Hunan Han population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 293 subjects with EH and 208 controls were enrolled in the study. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leucocytes by a phenol-chloroform method. The CALCA T-692C was genotyped using a restriction fragment length polymorphism method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A statistically significant difference in CALCA T-692C genotypic distribution was observed between cases and controls (P=0.001). Moreover, the frequencies of the C allele were 14.85% in the EH group and 7.45% in the control group, prevalence of C alleles in EH subjects and controls was significantly incomparable (P<0.001). Furthermore, the results of Logistic regression analysis showed that the carriers of C allele (TC+CC genotypes) were associated with increased EH risk (OR=2.093, 95% CI: 1.317-3.326, P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CALCA genetic polymorphism is associated with EH susceptibility. Carriers of at least one C allele at the polymorphic site CALCA T-692C showed increased risk for EH.</p>