Electroacupuncture treatment of chronic insomniacs.

Background: Due to the quick rhythm of life and work pressure, more and more people suffer from sleep quality problems. In this study, we investigated the effect of electroacupuncture on sleep quality of chronic insomniacs and the safety of electroacupuncture therapy.

Methods: Four courses of electroacupuncture treatment were applied to 47 patients.

[Oxidative stress status in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and its relation to glucocorticoid receptor levels].

Objective: To study changes in the levels of systematic and airway local oxidative stress in patients in different stages of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), and explore the association between oxidative stress and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) level in the peripheral blood leukocytes.

Methods: The levels of malonaldehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) in induced sputum and plasma, as well as GR levels in peripheral blood leukocytes and plasma levels of cortisol and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), were examined in 33 patients with acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD, group A), 27 with stable COPD (group B), and 28 healthy volunteers (including 15 smokers as group C, and 15 nonsmokers as group D).

Results: MDA level in induced sputum and plasma decreased, whereas the levels of GSH, SOD and GSH-PX increased significantly in the order of groups A, B, C, and D (P<0.

[Inhibition of the aquaporin-1 gene expression by RNA interference: experiment with cultured rat pleural mesothelial cells].

Objective: To investigate the influence of RNA interference (RNAi) on the expression of aquaporin-1 (AQP1) gene and to investigate the feasibility of gene therapy for pleural effusion.

Methods: Two recombinant plasmids with shRNAs targeting the AQP1 gene, AQP1-1-pGenesil and AQP1-2-pGenesil-1 were constructed. Pleural mesothelial cells were obtained from rats, cultured, and randomly divided into 5 groups: blank control group, Lipofectamine 2000 control group, HK negative control group, AQP1-1-pGenesil-1 transfected group, and AQP1-2-pGenesil-1 transfected group.

[Safety of sputum induction in subjects with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Objective: To evaluate the safety of sputum induction in subjects with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).

Methods: Twenty-two patients with AECOPD were enrolled in the study. All subjects inhaled a mist of 3% hypertonic saline solution and the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)) and pulse oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) were measured during the procedure.