Purpose:To investigate the effects and side- ef fects of thalidomide in the treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myelom a (MM).Methods:There were thirteen men and two women aged 33～7 6 (median 58) years in thalidomide alone group. Two cases were newly diagnosed my eloma; twelve of them were refractory myeloma, including three relapsed cases wh o had experienced autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (AutoPBS CT); another one is primary plasma cell leukemia. The starting dose was 100mg/d, escalating up to a maximum of 800mg/d. The combination group included twenty me n and seven women aged 40～81 (median 56) years of which case was newly diagnose d myeloma; twenty-five cases were refractory myeloma, two of whom relapsed after AutoPBSCT; another one was primary plasma cell leukemia. Dexamethasone 40mg/d w as used at d 1-4 , d 9-12 , d 17-20 when the dose of thalidomide increased to 400mg/d. Each cycle lasted for one month.Results: The total response rate was 42.9% and 57.7% in thalidomide alone group and in co mbination group, respectively. The response rate in refractory patients was 33.3 % and 44.0% in thalidomide alone group and in combination group, respectively. T here was no difference between the two groups in response rates. Both of the two groups had side effects of constipation and skin rash, etc. in different degree s but usually tolerable. Conclusions:Both thalidomide alone and thalidomide combined with dexamethasone was effective in the treatment of relap sed and refractory MM.

Codnopsispilosula polysaccharides (CPP) , which administered intra-peritoneally 200mg/kg?d-1 for 5 d or 8 d in mice, enhanced thephagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages on chiken RBC, the erythrocyte (E)rosette formation of thymus T lymphocyte and the clearance rate of charcoal particles in normal mice and antagonized the inhibition of E rosette formation and of peritoneal phagocytic activity caused by cyclophosphamide ( CY ) or hydrocortisone ( HCT ) . It inhibited the delayed type hypersensitivity ( DT H ) induced by DNCB and enhanced DT H induced by dexamethasons ( DMS ) . It has regulatory important signification in resisting decrepitude.

Objective To investigate the effect and safety of alprostadil in the treatment of diabetes complicating chronic kid‐ney disease to provide reference for clinical treatment .Methods 84 cases of diabetes complicating chronic kidney disease in this hospital from September 2013 to January 2015 were selected and divided into the observation group(44 cases) and the control group (40 cases) according to the voluntary principle .The control group used the epalrestat treatment ,while the observation group was combined with using alprostadil on the basis of control group .The effective rate ,serum creatinine ,blood urea nitrogen(BUN) ,uri‐nary albumin excretion rate ,C‐reactive protein(CRP) ,IL‐6 levels and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups .Re‐sults The effective rate of the observation group was 93 .18% ,which was significantly higher than 80 .00% in the control group , the difference was statistically significant (χ2 =4 .251 ,P=0 .005);the CRP and IL‐6 levels after treatment in the observation group were improved ,the difference was statistically significant (P<0 .05);the CRP and IL‐6 levels after treatment in the observation group[(0 .45 ± 0 .05)mg/L ,[(0 .72 ± 0 .11)μg/L] were significantly superior than[(1 .05 ± 0 .14)mg/L ,(1 .25 ± 0 .24)μg/L] in the control group ,the differences were statistically significant(P<0 .05);BUN ,urinary albumin excretion rate ,TNF‐αand endogenous creatinine clearance rate after treatment in the observation group were (6 .41 ± 1 .12)mmol/L ,(41 .12 ± 4 .46)μg/min ,(75 .54 ± 6 .64)ng/L and (92 .94 ± 8 .24)% ,which in the control group were (7 .39 ± 1 .05)mmol/L ,(91 .48 ± 7 .31)mmol/L ,(111 .42 ± 7 .69)ng/L and (81 .55 ± 9 .54)% respectively ,the improvement in the observation group was better than the control group ,the difference was statistically significant (P<0 .05);the occurrence rate of adverse reactions was 18 .18% in the observation group and 17 .50% in the control group ,showing the difference was not statistically significant (P>0 .05) .Conclusion Alprostadil in treating diabetes complicating chronic kidney disease has better effect ,conduces to improve the level of urinary albumin and inflammatory with high safety ,and is worthy of clinical promotion and application .

Objective To investigate clinical effect of fluvastatin in the treatment of early diabetic nephropa-thy,to provide a reference for clinical treatment.Methods 90 patients with diabetic nephropathy were selected,the patients were divided into observation group(50 cases)and control group(40 cases).Conventional hypoglycemic ther-apy used in the control group,and valsartan treatment also used.The observation group received fluvastatin on the basis of treatment of control group.The efficacy,urinary albumin excretion rate,inflammatory markers,serum creatinine and other indicators and adverse reactions were compared.Results The effective rate of the observation group was 90.00%,which was significantly higher than 75.00% of the control group,the difference was statistically significant (χ2 =4.325,P <0.05).After treatment,the BUN,UAER,TC,TG,LDL of the observation group were (6.54 ± 1.24)mmol/L,(40.43 ±4.21)μg/min,(3.81 ±0.47)mmol/L,(2.51 ±0.34)mmol/L,(2.41 ±0.64)mmol/L, the improvement was better than the control group,the differences were statistically significant (t =5.547,5.225, 5.457,4.957,5.339,all P <0.05).After treatment,the CRP,IL -6,IL -18,TNF -αin the observation group and control group were significantly improved compared with before treatment,the differences were statistically significant (P <0.05 ).After treatment,the CRP,IL -6,IL -18,TNF -αlevels of the observation group were (4.14 ± 0.87)mg/L,(88.17 ±8.54)pg/mL,(139.64 ±9.48)ng/L,(40.17 ±5.22)ng/L,the improvement was better than the control group,the differences were statistically significant (t =6.914,6.357,5.847,7.054,all P <0.05 ). Conclusion Fluvastatin in the treatment of early diabetic nephropathy has good effect,which will help to improve inflammatory cytokines and proteinuria and protect renal function,it is worthy of clinical application.

BACKGROUND: Currently, the materials used in clinical practice to repair cruciate ligament of knee joint contain auto-graft bone- mid 1/3 patella tendon-bone (B-T-B), auto-semitendinous muscle, gracilis muscle and allogenic tissue graft. All of them are limited to a certain degree in clinical application. Therefore, people hope to consistently develop artificial ligaments to take the place of auto- and allografts. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility to construct artificial biological ligament (ABL) by applying a novel biochemical technique using porcine tendon as the raw material. DESIGN: Research of new biological material. SETTING: Department of Orthopedics, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. MATERIALS: Adult pigs of either gender were provided by the Animal Center of Sun Yat-sen University. Scanning electron microscope (SEM, S-520) was provided by Hitachi, Japan, and micro-controlled electron tension-testing device (Model LWK-10B) by Guangzhou Experimental Devices Factory. METHODS: The experiment was performed at the Animal Center of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2004 to June 2005. ABL was established by means of treating porcine tendon with epoxy cross-linking fixation, diversified antigen minimization process, mechanic enhancement modification and surface activating process. Under aseptic condition, a 6-month-old goat's bone marrow was abstracted, and then the bone marrow matrix stem cells were cultured in ABL stent for 3 weeks. Scanning electron microscope was used to observe structure and compatibility of artificial ligament, and mechanics test was used to analyze biomechanics characteristics of ABL. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Structural features, cell compatibility and biomechanics characteristics of ABL.RESULTS: ① Structural features of ABL: The appearance of ABL was similar to that of the normal human ligament. Histological examination showed that the ABL was collagen fibers with no cells. Electron microscope examination revealed that the ABL was composed of hair-looking and fiber-like objects running uniformly in a certain direction and closely parallel-arranged. ② Cell compatibility: Three weeks after xenogenic marrow matrix cells were cultured on the surface of the ABL, it was noted that cells adhered and the matrix secreted by the cells precipitated around the cells. There were no cells found inside the ABL. ③ Mechanical strength of the ligament: The average diameter of ABL was 5 mm and the mechanical test at a speed of 100 mm/min showed that its averaged tensile limit was 927.19 N and the tension-resistant strength was 47.22 N/mm those were close to the corresponding parameters of the normal goat's ACL. The normal goat's ACL was 5 mm. The greatest tensile load was 807.50 N and the tension-resistant strength was 41.13 N/mm.CONCLUSION:As we used the unique biochemical technique and minimized the xenogenic protein immunogenicity of the porcine tendon, ABL has acceptable biomechanical properties and superior biocompatibility. As a substitute of the ligament in the reconstruction of the ACL, ABL has a promising prospect in clinical applications.

BACKGROUND: Alendronate (AL), a drug for inhibiting osteoclast-mediated bone-resorption, was intercalated into an inorganic drug delivery nanovehicle, layered double hydroxide (LDH), to form a new nanohybrid, AL-LDH, with 1:1 heterostructure along the crystallographic C-axis. Based on the intercalation reaction strategy, the present AL-LDH drug delivery system (DDS) was realized with an enhanced drug efficacy of AL, which was confirmed by the improved proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of osteoblast-like cells (MG63). METHODS: The AL-LDH nanohybrid was synthesized by conventional ion-exchange reaction and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Additionally, in vitro efficacy tests, such as cell proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, were analyzed. RESULTS: The AL was successfully intercalated into LDH via ion-exchange reaction, and thus prepared AL-LDH DDS was X-ray single phasic and chemically well defined. The accumulated AL content in MG63 cells treated with the AL-LDH DDS nanoparticles was determined to be 10.6-fold higher than that within those treated with the intact AL after incubation for 1 hour, suggesting that intercellular permeation of AL was facilitated thanks to the hybridization with drug delivery vehicle, LDH. Furthermore, both in vitro proliferation level and ALP activity of MG63 treated with the present hybrid drug, AL-LDH, were found to be much more enhanced than those treated with the intact AL. This is surely due to the fact that LDH could deliver AL drug very efficiently, although LDH itself does not show any effect on proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of MG63 cells. CONCLUSION: The present AL-LDH could be considered as a promising DDS for improving efficacy of AL.
Alendronate ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Cell Proliferation ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Fourier Analysis ; In Vitro Techniques ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Nanoparticles ; Spectrum Analysis ; X-Ray Diffraction

The clinical data of a case of adrenal alveolar echinococcosis treated and misdiagnosed in our hospital were reported retrospectively. The pre-operative CT examination of this patient showed that the liver S7 segment-the right adrenal gland area showed irregular masses of mixed density lesions, the boundary was unclear, consider the possibility of liver hydatid. During the operation, hydatid was found to only invade the liver capsule, and the primary lesion was the adrenal gland. The right adrenal gland and lesion were resected by urological surgeons. The pathological diagnosis was adrenal alveolar echinococcosis. When the imaging examination considers hepatic alveolar echinococcosis, and the lesion is mainly in the right adrenal gland area, it should be considered that the primary lesion could be in the adrenal gland.

Digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) is an absolute quantitative technique that has been rapidly developed in recent years. This technique assigns the reaction system containing DNA template to a large number of independent reaction units for PCR, and calculates the DNA copy number according to the Poisson distribution and statistical positive signals. In contrast to conventional qPCR, dPCR does not depend on amplification curves, is not affected by amplification efficiency, thus has high accuracy and repeatability, and can achieve the absolute quantification. This article reviews the development history of dPCR and its application in molecular diagnosis, tumor liquid biopsy and prenatal diagnosis of infectious diseases, and looks forward to the application prospect of this technology.

Balancing the risks and benefits of organophosphate pesticides(OPs)on human and environmental health relies partly on their accurate measurement.A highly sensitive fluorescence anti-quenching multi-residue bio-barcode immunoassay was developed to detect OPs(triazophos,parathion,and chlorpyrifos)in apples,turnips,cabbages,and rice.Gold nanoparticles were functionalized with monoclonal antibodies against the tested OPs.DNA oligonucleotides were complementarily hybridized with an RNA fluorescent label for signal amplification.The detection signals were generated by DNA-RNA hybridization and ribonuclease H dissociation of the fluorophore.The resulting fluorescence signal en-ables multiplexed quantification of triazophos,parathion,and chlorpyrifos residues over the concen-tration range of 0.01-25,0.01-50,and 0.1-50 ng/mL with limits of detection of 0.014,0.011,and 0.126 ng/mL,respectively.The mean recovery ranged between 80.3％and 110.8％with relative standard deviations of 7.3％-17.6％,which correlate well with results obtained by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS).The proposed bio-barcode immunoassay is stable,reproducible and reliable,and is able to detect low residual levels of multi-residue OPs in agricultural products.

Objective:To investigate the clinical features and associated chronic pain in corticobasal syndrome (CBS).Methods:Clinical data of 8 patients diagnosed as probable CBS or possible CBS admitted to Beijing Hospital during January 2010 to June 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical information included sex, age, course of disease, chief complaint, neurological examination, blood biochemistry, tumor marker, infection and other laboratory tests; the neuropsychological evaluation included Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scale and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD); the imaging studies included cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ( 18F-FDG PET). Results:The main clinical manifestations were asymmetrical movement disorders, including rigidity, tremor, myoclonus and abnormalities in posture and gait. Patients showed poor response to levodopa treatment. Among 8 patients, 7 had apraxia, 5 patients had alien hand, and 5 patients had various degrees of cognitive dysfunction. The cranial MRI demonstrated mild cerebral atrophy which was slightly more severe in the contralateral side of the initially affected limb in 7 of the 8 patients. The 18F-FDG PET scan revealed asymmetric decreased metabolism in the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobe, as well as in basal ganglia, which was more severe in the contralateral side of the initially affected limb in 5 of the 8 patients. Six of the 8 patients were associated with pain, including dystonic pain in 3 patients, neuropathic pain in 1 patient, musculoskeletal pain in 1 patient, and unexplained pain in 1 patient. Pain was the onset symptom in 1 patient and pain was relieved by taking levodopa in another patient. Conclusions:CBS is characterized by asymmetric dyskinesia and cognitive impairment, and often associated with apraxia, cortical sensory deficits, and alien limb. The MRI and PET are helpful for CBS diagnosis. Pain may be one of the common non-motor symptoms in CBS.