AIM: To investigate the efficacy and safety of low-dose leflunomide (Lef) combined with methotrexate (MTX) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Sixty-four RA patients were randomly divided into two groups, with 32 patients in each group. All the patients were required to stop the treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for 1 wk before entering the trial. Patients in the Lef+MTX group received Lef 20 mg, po, qd in the first 4 wk, followed by 10 mg,po, qd for next 20 wk. Patients also received MTX 7.5 mg,po, qw during the trial. Patients in the MTX group received MTX 15 mg,po, qw for 24 wk. Physical and laboratory examinations were performed at the beginning of the trial, after 12 wk treatment and 24 wk treatment. Entopic X-ray examination of both hands was performed before and after the treatment. RESULTS: The rate of remarkable improvement was 88% (28/32) in Lef+MTX group and 38% in MTX group (12/32). Adverse reactions were reported in 12% (4/32) patients in Lef+MTX group and 43% (14/32) patients in MTX group. The reported adverse reactions were rash and nausea in Lef+MTX group and nausea, vomiting, oral ulcer, alopecia, ALT elevation, palpitation and menoxenia in MTX group. CONCLUSION: Combination of Lef with MTX is safe and effective in treatment of RA with less adverse reactions.

Objective To investigate clinical therapeutic effect of zoledronic acid combined with chemotherapy to senile lung cancer with bone metastases.Methods Totally 80 cases of senile lung cancer patients with bone metastasis were randomly divided into control group and combined group,40 cases in each group.Limitation of activity to the situation,release of bone pain,adverse e-vents and side effects were observed.Serum Ca2+ concentration,alkaline phosphatase (AKP)levels and the levels of serum inflam-matory cytokines TNF-α,IL-1βwere detected.Results Limitation of activities and pain of patients with combined treatment was significantly ameliorated compared to control group (P <0.05).Serum Ca2+ ,AKP and TNF-α,IL-1β levels were significantly de-creased in patients with combined group in time-dependent manner,and which were significantly lower than control group.Bone ad-verse events and side effects in patients with combined treatment were significantly lower than in patients with control group.Con-clusion Zoledronic acid combined with chemotherapy can enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy,effectively relieve the limitation of activities and pain symptoms and reduce the incidence of bone adverse events and adverse reactions.The effect may be related to the decrease of serum calcium and the inflammatory cytokines.

AIM: To study the chemical components and contents of the volatile oil from the Rubia tinctorum L.. METHODS: The volatile oil was extracted by steam distillation-extract method,the chemical constituents of the volatile oil from the herb were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS). RESULTS: Thirty compounds were identified,which accounted for over 86.32% of the volatile oil. CONCLUSION: The major components were theaspirane(17.37%),2-furaldehyde(11.10%),benzeneacetaldehyde(6.01%),eugenol(5.47%),ionone(3.87%),and so on.

Objective To investigate the effects of casticin on proliferation and invasion on human breast cancer MCF-7 cells.Methods MTT assay and invasion assay were performed in MCF-7 cells treated with casticin,respectively.The expression of Bax,Caspase-3,MMP-2 and MMP-9 was analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blot.Results Casticin inhibited MCF-7 cells proliferation and invasion in a dose-dependent manner (P ＜ 0.05).Additionally,Bax and Caspase-3 expression was increased in MCF-7 cells treated with casticin,whereas MMP-2 and MMP-9 were down-regulated.Conclusion Casticin may play a critical role in inhibiting breast tumor cell proliferation and invasion,reinforcing its potential in clinical application.

Objective To study the effect of continuous venovenous haemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) on the clearances of various solutes in multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS)dogs.Methods Dogs were subjected to hemorrhagic shock plus resuscitation and endotoxemia to set up MODS model,then they were randomly divided into 2 groups: MODS group (M group)and MODS+CVVHDF group (M+C group).A PRISMA pre-dilution system with AN-69 filter was applied.Solute clearance of nitric oxide(NO),urea nitrogen(UN),creatinine (Cr),interleukin-6 (IL-6),interleukin-10 (IL-10),tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and endotoxin (LP) was determined with same dialysate and ultrafiltrate volume during CVVHDF.The clearance of various solutes (Kd) was calculated by the concentration of the cleared solutes in effluents (E) based on the formula Kd=(ExQE)/P.Results Clearances of NO,UN,Cr were greater than those of IL-6,IL-10,TNF-α,LP during the treatment of CVVHDF.Conclusion CVVHDF could effectively reduce the levels of various solutes in the development of MODS by convection and absorption.

Cooperation networks of nursing techniques were constructde by way of perspective practice so as to enhance the quality of nursing critical cases, the success rate of emergency treatments and patients' life quality. The measures included training in techniques for nmsing critical cases, making the rounds of wards and consultations, and enlarging the scope ofthe cooperation networks. Quantification methods were introduced into management, networks of critical case assessment were used in managing patients, and the system for assessing training in techniques for nursing critical cases was used in managing nursing personnel, thus improving the quality of the nursing pensonnel, ensuring the rational allocation of human resources and promoting the enhancement of the hospital's medical quality and its social and economic benefits. It is therefore not difficu1t to see that the cooperation networks are of application and dissemination value.

Objective To investigate pharmacodynamics of propofol for smooth exchange of tracheal tube for u laryngeal mask airway after surgery in elderly patients. Methods Twenty elderly patients, ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ, aged 65-70 yr, scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were enrolled in this study. Anesthesia was induced with propofol, atracurium and remifentanil. The patients were mechanically ventilated after the trachea was intubated. Anesthesia was maintained with propofol combined with remifentanil. After surgery, a predetermined propofol concentration was achieved and a steady state maintained for at least 5 min. The target plasma concentration of propofol at which the laryngeal mask airway following tracheal extubation was attempted was determined by Dixon's up-and-down method with 0.5 μg/ml as the step size, The probit model was used to calculate the EC_(50) and EC_(95) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of propofol for inhibiting patient's response induced by smooth excharge of tracheal tube. Results The EC50 of propofol to achieve laryngeal mask airway following tracheal extubation was 2.79 μg/ml (95% CI 2.44-3.04 μg/ml) and EC_(50) 3.61 μg/ml (95% CI 3.27-4.78 μg/ml). Conclusion The target plasma concentration of propofol for laryngeal mask airway following tracheal extubation in elderly patients is 3.61 μg/ml.

BACKGROUND:Circulating fibrocytes originated from the peripheral blood are a fibroblast-like cel subpopulation of leukocytes. Circulating fibrocytes play an essential role in wound repair by secreting extracel ular matrix proteins and cytokines, initiating antigen-specific immunity, accelerating wound contraction as wel as promoting angiogenesis. However, the potential role for improving chronic wound healing and its mechanism is stil unclear. OBJECTIVE:To summarize the biological features of circulating fibrocytes and its potential role and mechanism in accelerating chronic wound healing. METHODS:A computer-based search of CNKI database from 2000 to 2014, PubMed database from 1994 to 2014 and Foreign Medical Journal Ful-Text Service database from 2000 to 2014 was performed using“circulating fibrocytes, non-healing wounds, diabetic foot ulcer, wound healing, cel therapy”in Chinese and English as the keywords to retrieve articles related to circulating fibrocytes, refractory mechanism of chronic wound healing and cel therapy for chronic wounds. Total y 54 articles meeting the inclusive criteria were included in result analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Cel therapy with circulating fibrocytes is a safe and effective treatment for improving wound healing and has been used to repair various chronic wounds in the recent decades. Circulating fibrocytes are a distinct subpopulation of fibroblast-like leukocytes in the peripheral blood. It is able to migrate into wound sites at the early stage of wound repair and plays an active role in the wound healing process by secreting extracel ular matrix proteins, cytokines, presenting antigens, contracting wound and promoting neovascularization. Recently, it has been proved in animal experiments that circulating fibrocytes can accelerate chronic wound healing, especial y diabetic chronic wound.

BACKGROUND:Potential mechanisms of scar formation and scar prevention strategies have become more important in current medical research. Scar assessment scales have the potential to contribute to better evaluation of scar properties in both research and clinical diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: To summarize the literatures addressing scar prevention and clinical assessment. METHODS: A computer search of CNKI database from 2000 to 2014, PubMed database from 1975 to 2014 and Foreign Medical Journal Ful-Text Service Database from 2000 to 2014 was performed using the keywords of scar, prevention, treat, cicatrix, assessment, measure in Chinese and English to retrieve articles related to scar prevention strategies and scar assessment scales. Totaly 39 articles meeting the inclusive criteria were included in result analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: During wound healing, the unbalance between colagen anabolism and katabolism can lead to the formation of pathological scar. Prevention and treatment of pathological scars should be combined, and early intervention was used in wound healing. General scar assessment scales include Vancouver Scar Scale, Visual Analog Scale, Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale, Manchester Scar Assessment Scale, Stony Brook Scar Assessment Scale, al of which have the potential to contribute to better evaluation of scar properties in both research and clinical diagnosis.

Cooperation networks of nursing techniques were constructed by way of perspective practice so as toenhance the quality of nursing critical cases, the success rate of emergency treatments and patients' life quality. Themeasures included taming in techniques for nursing critical cases, making the runds of wards and consultations, andenlarging the scope of the cooperation networks. Quantification methods were introduced into management, networks ofcritical case assessment were ed in managing patients, and the system for assessing taming in techniques for nursingcritical cases was used in managing nineing personnel, thus improving the quality of the nursing personnel, ensuringthe rational allocation of human resources and promoting the enhancement of the hospital's medical quality and its social and econondc benefits. It is therefore not difficult to see that the cooperation networks are of application and dissemination value.