Effects of moxibustion at shenque (CV 8) on serum IL-12 level and NK cell activities in mice with transplanted tumor.

The study was to investigate the effect of moxibustion on the serum IL-2, IL-12 levels and NK cell and ascitic tumor cell activities in H-22 mice with tumor and its mechanisms. The method used in the study was that the IL-2 and IL-12 levels were determined by the double antibody method with ELISA, and the NK cell activities by the MTT measure. The results showed that moxibustion elevated the serum IL-2 and IL-12 levels and the NK cell activities of the mice with tumor, and the elevations were of significance as compared with the controls (P < 0.05). It is concluded that moxibustion can inhibit the growth of tumor, which is related to the increase of the serum IL-2 and IL-12 levels and the strengthening of NK cell activities.

Detection of soluble tumor necrosis factor-p55 levels in the serum and ascitic fluid of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To examine soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor-p55 (sTNFR-p55) levels in the serum and ascitic fluid and investigate the significance of this examination in assessment of the clinical status of patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to examine sTNFR-p55 levels in the serum and ascitic fluid in 25 patients with HCC and 25 with liver cirrhosis (LC). RESULTS: sTNFR-p55 levels in the serum and ascitic fluid in patients with HCC were significantly higher than those in patients with LC and controls (P=0.001). No significant difference was found between LC and the control in terms of serum sTNFR-p55 levels (P=0.19). Positive correlation was observed between sTNFR-p55 levels in the serum and in ascitic fluid of patients with HCC and LC (r=1.000, P<0.001). Logistic regression revealed that in patients with HCC, serum sTNFR-p55 levels were positively correlated with TBil and AFP in the peripheral blood (r=0.524, P=0.01 and r=0.234, P=0.03, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Increased sTNFRs-p55 levels in the serum and ascitic fluid reflect abnormal immune status of the patients with HCC and help predict the development of tumor.