OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of high-dose Astragalus injection and cyclophosphamide (CTX) on infection, urine protein and immune function of the patients with lupus nephritis. METHODS: Forty-three patients diagnosed as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) complicated by kidney damage and qi-deficiency syndrome were randomly divided into trial group (n=23) and control group (n=20). Patients in both groups were treated for 3 months. Intravenous drip infusion of 0.8 g CTX was administered to all patients once a month, while intravenous drip infusion of 20 ml Astragalus injection was only administered to patients in the trial group every day for 12 days in each month. RESULTS: The decrease of active clinical symptom score after the treatment in the trial group was greater than that in the control group (P<0.05). The infection rates of the trial group and the control group were 4.35% and 25% respectively. The decrease of 24-hour urine protein and CD8, and the increase of red blood cell count and serum albumin in the trial group were greater than those in the control group, and there were significant differences between the two groups (P<0.05). White blood cell count in the trial group was decreased less than that in the control group after the treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: High-dose Astragalus injection used together with CTX is more effective than CTX alone in decreasing infection rate and urine protein and improving immune function for patients with lupus nephritis.

AIM: To explore the mechanism of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on vascular endothelial cell(VEC) damage. METHODS: By using cytometry techniques, we studied the effects of LPS on apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro . RESULTS: LPS was able to induce apoptosis of HUVECs in a time-dose-dependent fashion.CONCLUSION:Apoptosis might play a role in LPS-induced damage of vascular endothelial cells.

AIM: To explore effects of LPS,TNF-?,IL-1? on cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) expression and prostaglandins(PGs) production in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). METHODS: HUVEC were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS),TNF-?,IL-1? for 24 hours. Using in situ hybridization,reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry, COX-2 expression in both mRNA and protein level were observed and prostaglandins in culture medium were measured. RESULTS: Resting HUVEC expressed a little COX-2 mRNA. Expression of mRNA and protein of cyclooxygenase-2 increased significantly post-stimulation with LPS,TNF-?,IL-1? and PGs raised markedly at the same time. CONCLUSIONS: Resting HUVEC expressed a little COX-2 mRNA, inflammatory stimuli induced COX-2 superexpression and PGs production. These results suggested that endothelial cells could involve in inflammation by controlling of COX-2.

To explore the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), TNF ? and IL 1? on cyclooxygenase 2 (COX 2) expression and prostaglandins (PGs) in rat polymorphonuclear (PMN), measured COX 2 mRNA was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and changes in PGs after stimulation of PMN with LPS, TNF ? and IL 1? for 24 hours were observed. The resting PMN were found to express COX 2 mRNA weakly, while it was significantly up regulated after the stimulation of LPS,TNF ?and IL 1?. The level of PGs was increased markedly at the same time. These results suggested that COX 2 might play an important role during inflammatory process involving PMN.

Objective To expound the mechanism and the clinical features of Tong-Du-Huo-Luo exercise in treating ankylosing spondylitis.Methods Besides taking SASP per os,the patients in treatment group did Tong-Du-Huo-Luo exercise twice daily. Patients in control group took SASP only.The patients in both groups had accepted the treatments for 6 months.Results Compared with western medicine treatment,the Tong-Du-Huo-Luo exercise can bring better effects on ability of expanding chest,finger-floor distance,pulvinar-wall distance,and improving the results of Schober test and blood sedimentation test.Conclusions Tong-Du-Huo-Luo exercise is an effective method in treating ankylosing spondylitis patients.

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of Ziyin Yangxue Qingre Formula (Formula for enriching yin,nourishing blood and clearing heat) on primary Sjogren's Syndrome (pSS).Methods Totally 64 female pSS patients were randomized into a treating group (33 cases),and a control group (31 cases).The control group was administered Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate Tablet.In addition,the treating group was prescribed Ziyin Yangxue Qingre Formula.Three-month treatment was as one course.After one course of treatment,the changes in symptom scores,salivation quantity,tear quantity,and immuno-infective indices were observed to compare the effect between both groups.Results The total effective rate of the treating group(87.88%) was significantly higher than that (64.52%) of the control group (P

Objective To understand willingness of current medical undergraduates to work at community health-care service(CHS)institutions after their graduation to provides information for professional training for them.Methods Totally,2714 medical undergraduate students were recruited from three medical schools in east,middle and west China by multi-level sampling methods for questionnaire survey on their basic information and willingness to be employed at CHS institutions.results of the survey were described by relative numeric and tested by chi-square test for smtistical inference.Results About 60.6%of medical undergraduate students were willing to work at CHS organizations permanently or temporarily.Their willingness to work there differed with their native living areas and grades they were studying significantly(P＜0.01).Reason for those they would work at CHS organizations after graduation included work less stress and easier,and that for those reluctant to work there included low-income and lack of social respect for general practitioners.Conclusions Nowadays,few medical undergraduate students would like to work at CHS organizations after their graduation,which was influenced mainly by traditional ideas and concepts of employment,personal career devdopment,economic income,and so on.It is suggested that ideas of community work be strengthened for medical undergraduate students and their employment concepts be changed in the future.

Objective To explore the causes of rising carbapenem resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii isolates by analysis of the carbapenemase genotypes in A .baumannii .Methods WHONET 5 .4 was used to analyze the changing resistance profile of A .baumannii isolates over years .A total of 320 carbapenem‐resistant A .baumannii isolates were collected from the patients in an intensive care unit from January 2008 to December 2012 .All strains were identified and tested by VITEK 2 for their susceptibility .The metallo‐β‐lactamases genes and OXA carbapenemase genes were investigated by polymerase chain reaction . Results The resistance rate of A .baumannii isolates to meropenem and imipenem increased rapidly from 10 .8% to 80 .4% and from 13 .5% to 83 .5% during the period from 2008 and 2012 .The prevalence of blaOXA‐23and ISAba1‐associated blaOXA‐23genes increased from 25 .0% to 97 .1% .No metallo‐β‐lactamase encoding genes were detected .Conclusions Our results indicate that the rising carbapenem resistance in the A . baumannii isolates in our intensive care unit may be associated with the high prevalence of blaOXA‐23 and IS A ba1‐associated blaOXA‐23 genes .

Objective: To screen for the differentially expressed genes in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and normal laryngeal tissue using cDNA microarray. Methods: The PCR products of 4 096 genes were spotted on a chemical material coated glass plates in array. The DNAs were then fixed on the glass plate by a serial of treatments. The total RNAs were isolated from the tissues, and then were purified to mRNAs by Oligotex. Both the mRNAs from the laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and normal tissue were reversely transcribed to cDNAs with the incorporations of fluorescent dUTP, for preparing the hybridization probes. The mixed probes were then hybridized to the cDNA microarray. After high stringent washing, the cDNA microarray was scanned for the fluorescent signals and showed the differences between 2 tissues. Results: Among the 4 096 target genes, there were 36(0.88%) genes whose expression levels differed between the carcinoma and normal tissues in all 4 cases. Bioinformatical analysis of those genes had been performed. Conclusion: DNA microarray technology is an effective technique in screening for differentially expressed genes between 2 different kinds of tissue. Further analysis of the obtained genes will help to understand the molecular mechanism of malignant carcinoma. [

Objective:To investigate the role of pleiotrophin (PTN) gene in carcino genesis using cDNA microarray and in situ hybridization. Methods:The expression of PTN gene in 5 cases of glioma, 10 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, 6 cases of hepatocarcinoma, and normal controls were detected by BioDoor 4096 type cDNA microarray and in situ hybridization. Results: The expression of PTN gene in carcinoma samples were significantly higher than in normal controls by cDNA microarray, the results was the same as by in situ hybridization. Conclusion: cDNA microarray is an effective technique in analysis of functional study of associated genes in carcinoma. High expression of PTN gene might be correlated with mechanism of multiple carcinoma. [