[Effect of acupuncture at "reflection points" of the affected side on the peripheral facial paralysis in acute phase].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of acupuncture at the "reflection points" of affected side on the peripheral facial paralysis in acute phase. METHODS: Ninety patients with peripheral facial paralysis in acute phase were randomly divided into a reflection group (group A), a conventional acupuncture group (group B) and a physiotherapy group (group C), 30 cases in each group. The same basic medication were given in all three groups. In the group A, acupuncture at "reflection points" of the affected side and local acupoints in acute phase, such as Dicang (ST 4), Jiache (ST 6), Quanliao (SI 18), Xiaguan (ST 7), Yangbai (GB 14), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), etc. were applied. The electroacupuncture was added in the stationary phase, and Zusanli (ST 36) was added in the recovery phase. In the group B, acupuncture at Yifeng (TE 17) of the affected side in acute phase and local acupoints, such as Dicang (ST 4), Jiache (ST 6), Quanliao (SI 18), Xiaguan (ST 7), Yangbai (GB 14), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), etc. were applied. The electroacupuncture was added in the stationary phase, and Zusanli (ST 36) was added in the recovery phase. In the group C, ultrashort wave on Yifeng (TE 17) of the affected side in acute phase was applied, and the treatment in the stationary phase and the recovery phase was the same as the group B. The treatment was given once every day, 5 times as one course for 4 courses. The House-Brackmann (H-B) grading scale, facial disability index scale, the symptom and physical score integral scale were used to score before and after treatment, and the clinical effects of the three groups were compared. RESULTS: After treatment, the functional grade of H-B facial nerve was better than that before treatment in the three groups (P<0.01). There was no significant difference among the three groups after treatment (P>0.05). After treatment, the course of treatment required to reflect the healing in the group A was shorter than that in the group B and the group C (P<0.01); the body function scores and social function scores in the three groups were better than those before treatment (P<0.01), there was no significant difference among the three groups after treatment (P>0.05). The scores of symptoms and signs in the three groups were lower than those before treatment (P<0.01), there was no significant difference among the three groups after treatment (P>0.05). H-B facial nerve function grading scale and facial disability index (FDI) scale were used as the evaluation criteria, the curative rate was 66.7% (20/30) in the group A, 50.0% (15/30) in the group B and 46.7% (14/30) in the group C, the curative rate in the group A was better than the other two groups (P<0.05). The curative and markedly effective rate in the group A was 83.3% (25/30), 70.0% (21/30) in the group B and 63.3% (19/30) in the group C, the curative and markedly effective rate in the group A was better than the other two groups (P<0.05). The scores of symptoms and signs were used as the evaluation criteria, the curative rate was 66.7% (20/30) in the group A, 50.0% (15/30) in the group B, and 46.7% (14/30) in the group C. The curative rate in the group A was better than the other two groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared with general acupuncture and physiotherapy, acupuncture at the "reflection points" of the affected side on the peripheral facial paralysis in acute phase could shorten the course of treatment and improve the curative effect.

[Accurate and rapid prenatal diagnosis of beta-thalassemia by a multiplex primer extension and denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography technique].

OBJECTIVE: To develop a primer-extension in combination with denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (PE-DHPLC)-based assay for prenatal diagnosis of the five most common beta-thalassemia mutations in Chinese. METHODS: The human beta-globin gene fragment was amplified by PCR, followed by a multiple PE reaction specific for each five mutations. Then the PE product mixtures were separated for genotyping of beta-globin gene mutations using fully-denaturing DHPLC analysis. RESULTS: In a blind study, prenatal diagnosis was performed on thirty-six at-risk families for beta-thalassemia major. Reverse dot blot (RDB) analysis was used to validate each result, showing an accuracy rate of 100% for PE-DHPLC in a total of 108 samples tested. Overall, by PE-DHPLC analysis, the authors could identify the genotypes involving the five mutations and normal alleles corresponding to 94.4% (102/108) and actually make final decision for prenatal diagnosis covering 97.2% (35/36). CONCLUSION: The PE-DHPLC protocol can be a simple, rapid, and highly accurate assay in the prenatal detection of common beta-thalassemia mutations.

[A case control study on the risk factors of male infertility].

OBJECTIVE: To study the risk factors of male infertility. METHOD: Case control study including 94 cases and control group with a ratio of 1 to 1. RESULTS: The risk factors of male infertility were long time heavy smoking habit (OR = 3.45, 95% CI: 1.95 - 6.10), illegal sexual intercourse (OR = 7.29, 95% CI: 2.54 - 20.89), growing vegetable under plastic in higher temperature (OR = 6.73, 95% CI: 1.91 - 23.69), contact with benzene chemicals (OR = 20.53, 95% CI: 4.67 - 90.25) and having Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) infection (OR = 5.55, 95% CI: 2.28 - 13.53). CONCLUSION: Male infertility was resulted from many factors repeatedly acting on men for long time. In order to prevent male infertility, issues as environmental pollution, occupational protection need to be improved while bad working condition and risky behavior should be changed.

[Application of phage antibody library technology: problems and their solutions].

In spite of the wide application of phage antibody library technology in antibody engineering, problems are often present especially in the key steps, for instance, library construction, screening and expression of the antibody. The authors conducted an analysis of these problems and thereby proposes their solutions.

Expression of phospholipase-gamma1 in human fetal tissues.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of phospholipase C-gamma1(PLC-gamma1) in human fetal tissues. METHODS: Serial sections 5 &mgr;m in thickness were prepared from paraformadehyde-fixed and paraffin-embedded normal human fetal tissues including the cartilage, the cartilage membrane and the muscle tissues. The distribution of PLC-gamma1 expression was examined immunohistochemically in the sections. RESULTS: Immunoreactive PLC-gamma1 was readily detected in the cells of the cartilage, the cartilage membrane and the muscl tissues, which was largely confined within the cytoplasm. CONCLUSION: PLC-gamma1 is essential for the early development and cell proliferation of human embryos.