Treatment of fever due to exopathic wind-cold by rapid acupuncture

57 cases of common cold, influenza, acute tonsillitis and acute bronchitis were treated by rapid needling with filiform needles at Dazhui (Du 14), Fengchi (GB 13), and Quchi (LI 11). The indices for observation were first determined, and the 19 cases that manifested an axilla temperature drop of over 1 degree C after treatment and a ratio of < 0.3 of the main symptom scores after treatment were regarded as markedly effective; the 27 cases that manifested an axilla temperature drop of 0.5-1.0 degree C and a symptom score ratio of 0.3-0.6 were regarded as effective, and the 11 cases that manifested an axilla temperature drop of < 0.5 degrees C and a symptom score ratio of > 0.7 were regarded as failures. The total effective rate was 80.7%. Analysis of the individual patients indicated that the peripheral blood leucocyte and lymphocyte counts differed insignificantly after needling, while the body temperature, rate of respiration, pulse, blood pressure and acupoint temperature all dropped, with a simultaneous increase in the percentage of T-lymphocytes. The immediate effects were especially marked in fevers due to exogenous wind and cold.

Dietary palmitic and oleic acids exert similar effects on serum cholesterol and lipoprotein profiles in normocholesterolemic men and women

To compare the effects of dietary palmitic acid (16:0) vs oleic acid (18:1) on serum lipids, lipoproteins, and plasma eicosanoids, 33 normocholesterolemic subjects (20 males, 13 females; ages 22-41 years) were challenged with a coconut oil-rich diet for 4 weeks. Subsequently they were assigned to either a palm olein-rich or olive oil-rich diet followed by a dietary crossover during two consecutive 6-week periods. Each test oil served as the sole cooking oil and contributed 23% of dietary energy or two-thirds of the total daily fat intake. Dietary myristic acid (14:0) and lauric acid (12:0) from coconut oil significantly raised all the serum lipid and lipoprotein parameters measured. Subsequent one-to-one exchange of 7% energy between 16:0 (palm olein diet) and 18:1 (olive oil diet) resulted in identical serum total cholesterol (192, 193 mg/dl), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (130, 131 mg/dl), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (41, 42 mg/dl), and triglyceride (TG) (108, 106 mg/dl) concentrations. Effects attributed to gender included higher HDL in females and higher TG in males associated with the tendency for higher LDL and LDL/HDL ratios in men. However, both sexes were equally responsive to changes in dietary fat saturation. The results indicate that in healthy, normocholesterolemic humans, dietary 16:0 can be exchanged for 18:1 within the range of these fatty acids normally present in typical diets without affecting the serum lipoprotein cholesterol concentration or distribution. In addition, replacement of 12:0 + 14:0 by 16:0 + 18:1, but especially 16:0 or some component of palm olein, appeared to have a beneficial impact on an important index of thrombogenesis, i.e., the thromboxane/prostacyclin ratio in plasma.

Effects of intravenous infusions of diaspirin cross-linked hemoglobin (DCLHb) on sheep

The purpose of this study was to compare the cardiopulmonary, hematologic, and immunologic responses of unanesthetized sheep to single, "topload", intravenous infusions of either 10 mL/Kg or 40 mL/Kg of Diaspirin Cross-Linked Hemoglobin, 10 mL/Kg or 40 mL/Kg of a Human Serum Albumin (HSA) solution oncotically adjusted with human serum albumin to approximately match the oncotic pressure of the DCLHb, or 10 mL/Kg of Erythrocyte Hemolysate solution prepared in a manner similar to that commonly described in the literature and referred to as "stroma free hemoglobin". Solutions were infused at a rate of 1 mL/Kg/minute and animals were monitored for 72 hours after infusion. These studies demonstrated that in sheep infusion of either DCLHb or HSA solutions was well tolerated and did not produce a significant increase in plasma C3a levels, an increase in the plasma concentration of thromboxane B2, or unexpected fluid shifts. In contrast, infusion of the Erythrocyte Hemolysate produced a greater than 10-fold increase in plasma C3a concentrations, a greater than 6000-fold increase in plasma TxB2 concentration, significant fluid shifts, and changes in a variety of other parameters consistent with induction of a dramatic inflammatory response. These results indicate that appropriately prepared and purified DCLHb solutions do not elicit an inflammatory reaction in sheep.

Treadmill exercise testing in ischaemic heart disease

An analysis of 1,600 consecutive treadmill exercise tests is made, with emphasis on those with an ischaemic response. An ischaemic response is defined as a horizontal or downsloping depression of the ST segment of 1 mm or more. A hypertensive response is recorded where the blood pressure exceeds 200 mm Hg systolic or 100 mm Hg diastolic during exercise. There were 150 (9%) ischaemic responses and 279 (17%) hypertensive responses. Cardiac arrhythmias were detected in 173 (11%) subjects. Among the 150 subjects with ischaemic responses, 69 (46%) of them presented with anginal symptoms while 64 (43%) of them had no precordial pain. Twenty-seven (18%) of them had definite previous myocardial infarction. Risk factors observed included hypertension in 54 (36%) subjects, diabetes mellitus in 33 (22%) subjects, hypercholesterolaemia in 41 (37%) out of 112 subjects and 44 (29%) cigarette smokers.

Clinical aspects of treadmill exercise testing

A study is made of 525 consecutive treadmill exercise tests. Horizontal or downsloping ST segment depression of 1 mm or more was considered or ischaemic response. A systolic blood pressure exceeding 200 mm Hg or a diastolic blood pressure exceeding 100 mm Hg during or after exercise was defined as a hypertensive response. An ischemic response was found in 48 subjects. In this group, 7 (15%) had previous myocardial infarction, 10 (21%) had minor ischaemic changes in the resting electrocardiogram. Twenty-eight (58%) complained of precordial pain or discomfort. A hypertensive response occurred in 101 subjects. Thirty-eight of them had precordial pain or discomfort. The resting blood pressure was elevated in 52, borderline in 32, and normal in 17 subjects. Cardiac arrhythmias were detected in 53 patients. Other abnormalities detected included 3 cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and 1 case of post exercise bronchospasm due to propranolol.