Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of external application of herbal medicine for ankylosing spondylitis(AS).Methods Two hundred and seventy-nine AS patients were randomized into group A(N=175)and group B(N=104).The two groups received oral use of sulfasalazine,and group A additionally received external application of herbal medical ointment(mainly composed of Pheretima,Squama Manis,Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponicae,Radix Rehmanniae Preparata,Rhizoma Cibotii,Cortex Eucommiae,Radix Dipsaci)on 3~4 pairs of bilateral acupoints of Jiaji,dressing change once every three days,for continuous 6 months.After treatment,the therapeutic effect was evaluated.The primary outcome measures of health general score(BAS-G),disease activity index(BASDAI),function index(BASFI),Likert four-grade scores of general pain and rachialgia,duration of morning stiffness,general assessment by physician were observed before and after treatment.The secondary outcome measures of occiput to wall distance,finger to floor distance,chest expansion,Schober's test,spinal movement,"4"shape test were compared.The changes of erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),C-reactive protein(CRP),complements 3 and 4(C3 and C4)as well as the adverse actions were also observed.Results After treatment,46 patients were clinically relieved,65 markedly effective,52 effective,12 ineffective,and the total effective rate was 93.14% in group A;11 patients were clinically relieved,27 markedly effective,48 effective,18 ineffective,and the total effective rate was 82.61% in group B.The difference of the therapeutic effect was significant between the two groups(P

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of liquid nitrogen cryotherapy combined with acyclovir and mecobalamin in the treatment of herpes zoster in elderly patients.Methods 520 elderly patients with herpes zoster were randomly divided into two groups,experimental group and control group (n=260,each).Patients in experimental group were treated with liquid nitrogen cryotherapy,using liquid nitrogen cotton swab to graze the skin lesions 2-3 times per day for successive 5 days,combined with acyclovir and mecobalamin.Patients in control group were treated with acyclovir and mecobalamin.New blisters and dry skin and crust were observed and compared between the two groups on the 5th,14th,30th day after treatment.The skin lesion situation and reaction times for pain complete remission,vesicular scab,postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) were recorded and analyzed.Results The effective rate was 93.9％ (244/260) in the experimental group versus 84.2％ (219/260) in the control group (x2 =12.32,P＜ 0.05).The reaction times for vesicular scab,pain complete remission and subside were shorter in experimental group than in control group [(2.63 ±0.78)d vs.(4.75±1.39)d,(8.17±1.68)d vs.(11.25±2.23)d,(9.24±2.53)d vs.(12.78±3.13)d,all P＜0.01].There was no significant difference in new blister time between the experimental group and the control group [(1.85±0.62) d vs.(1.79±0.83)d,P＞0.05].Postherpetic neuralgia incidence was lower in experimental group than in control group [6.9％ (18/260) vs.18.1％ (47/260),x2 =14.79,P＜0.01].Conclusions Treatment with liquid nitrogen cryotherapy combined with acyclovir and mecobalamin can shorten the reaction times of vesicular scab,and pain complete remission and subside,and reduce postherpetic neuralgia as compared to acyclovir and mecobalamin treatment in elderly patients with herpes zoster.

Objective A recombinant adenoviral vector containing mIL-18BP and mIL-4 fusion gene(AdmIL-18BP/mIL-4) was constructed and used to investigate the role of mIL-18BP and mIL-4 in medula-ring the expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthetase (iNOS) and their inducing products PGE2, NO in murine collagen-induced arthritis. Methods Male DBA-1/BOM mice were used in this study. Mice with CIA were intra-articularly injected with 107 pfu/6μl of AdmIL-18BP/mIL-4.Intra-articular injections of AdLacZ or PBS were used as controls. The mRNA expression of COX-2, iNOS in synovial tissue was analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Expression of COX-2 and iNOS protein was estimated by Western blot method. The production of PGE2 and NO in synovia was detected by competitive ELISA and enzyme reduction of nitrate. Results The expression of COX-2, iNOS mRNA in routine synovial tissue of AdmIL-18BP/mIL-4 treatment group was significantly lower than that of AdLacZ group (0.15 vs 0.42,P<0.01 ; 0.05 vs 0.77, P<0.01) and PBS group (0.15 vs 0.65, P<0.01; 0.05 vs 0.64, P<0.01 ). And the protein expression of COX-2, iNOS from AdmIL-18BP/mIL-4 treatment group was also obviously lower than that of AdLacZ group (0.08 vs 0.92, P<0.01; 0.11 vs 1.00, P<0.01) and PBS group (0.08 vs 0.77, P<0.01; 0.11 vs 0.84, P<0.01 ). The PGE2 and NO production in synovia of AdmIL-18BP/mIL-4 treatment group was significantly lower than that of AdLacZ group [(0.68x0.06) vs (2.58±0.21)ng/mL, P<0.01; (23.4+2.5) vs (60.0±11.3)μmol/L, P<0.01 ] and PBS group [(0.68±0.06) vs (2.57±0.20)ng/mL, P<0.01; (23.4+2.5) vs (60.3±13.4)μmol/L, P<0.01]. Conclusion These data indicat that local over-expre-ssion of mIL-18BP and mIL-4 can down-regulate COX-2, iNOS and their induced product PGE2, NO in CIA mice. The combination treatment with mIL-18BP and mIL-4 is a promising therapeutic target for RA.

Objective: To investigate the clinical effect of microsurgical operation combined with liquid nitrogen cryotherapy on squamous cell carcinoma in elderly patients. Methods: Forty-six patients with squamous cell carcinoma visiting dermatology department of our hospital from January 2011 to July 2014 were enrolled.They were randomizely divided into two groups: the control group(n=23)receiving a microsurgical treatment and the observation group(n=23)receiving liquid nitrogen cryotherapy as add-on to a microsurgical operation.All patients were followed up for 1-3 years.Clinical efficacy, 1-year recurrence rate, 1-year transfer rate and the survival rate were compared between the two groups. Results: The total effective rate was higher in the observation group than in the control group(91.3% vs.82.6%, P<0.05). The 1-year recurrence rate and 1-year transfer rate were lower in the observation group than in the control group(13.4% vs.17.4%, 4.3% vs.8.7%, P<0.05). Conclusions The surgery combined with liquid nitrogen cryotherapy for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma can significantly reduce the recurrence rate and transfer rate after operation and prolong the survival time, which is worthy of further research and promotion.

In subclinical diabetic nephropathy with glomerular hyperfiltration,the renal size parameters are increased significantly,and this change sets in as early as before the appearance of microalbuminuria.The average kidney length discriminator value for glomerular hyperfiltration by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis is 10.53 cm,with the best sensitivity,higher specificity and total coincidence rate,and can be a clinical indicator for screening early diabetic nephropathy with glomerular hyperfiltration.

Objective To prepare a novel monoclonal antibody (mAb) that specifically against Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture filtrate protein 10 (CFP-10).Methods The BALB/c mice were immunized by a peptide with 14 amino acids (aa residues 53 to 66) of CFP-10,and then the splenocytes of mice were fused with myeloma cell line SP2/0.The resultant fused cells were subjected to screening culture,enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay and subcloning by limited dilution to establish hybridoma cell lines of stable secreting anti-the peptide of CFP-10 antibody.The antibody was purified,and its isotypes were analyzed.Then,the antibody was further evaluated by Western blotting,immunoprecipitation and ELISA in 38 culture supernatant samples of Mycobacterium tuberculosis,20 culture supernatant samples of non-Mycobacterium tuberculosis,32 samples of tuberculous pleural effusion,24 samples of non-tuberculous pleural effusion,and 20 serum samples from healthy controls.Results The isotype of the mAb against the specific peptide of CFP-10 was an IgG1 with κ chain,and it was applicable for Western blotting and immunoprecipitation analysis.ELISA quantitative test showed that the sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were 78.6％ (55/70) and 92.2％ (59/64),respectively.Conclusion The mAb generated against the specific peptide of CFP-10 is high in sensitivity and specificity,and it might be used in the early diagnosis of tuberculosis.

ObjectiveTo investigate the intervention effects of fluoxetine on hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis function changes in post-stroke depression (PSD) patients.MethodsMild to moderate stroke patients were enrolled and blood T3,T4,FT3,FT4 and TSH were measured at day 0,1,7,14,21 and 3 months.At day 7,thyroid hormone releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test were performed.After evaluated with the anxiety scale screening using the HAMD scale assessment at day 21,the subjects were divided into simple stroke subgroup ( ＜8 points,25 cases) and PSD sub-group ( ≥ 8 points,18 cases),with 16 healthy age and sex matched individuals as control group.In the 2nd stage,TRH stimulation test were performed in PSD patients before and after 7 days of fluoxetine administration.ResultsCompared with control group,stroke patients presented lower FT3 (P ＜0.05 ) and higher serum TSH (P ＜ 0.05) at day 0,1,7,14.Furthermore,PSD patients presented lower FT3,TSH levels and higher FT4 levels than simple stroke patients did(P＜0.05).At day 21 and month 3,T3,T4,FT3,FT4 and TSH levels in stroke patients were not different from those in control group(P ＞ 0.05).TRH test showed that the responses in PSD patients were lower than those in simple stroke patients( (2.65 ±0.42)μIU/ml vs (5.31 ±0.68 ) μIU/ml,P ＜ 0.05 ).Correlation analysis showed HAMD scores correlated with TSH level changes and TSH0 ～30 in PSD subgroup closely( r=0.35,0.25,P＜0.01 ).In the 2nd stage,TRH test showed that PSD patients who took fluoxetine presented a lower TSH level change than PSD patients who did not( (4.61 ± 2.02) μIU/ml vs (7.05 ± 2.12) μIU/ml,P ＜ 0.05 ).ConclusionPSD patients present a long and severe HPT axis function inhibition,which may due to TRH deficiency,and fluoxetine may improve this abnormality.

Objective To investigate the expression of inflammatory mediators in renal tubular epithelial cells in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) and to explore the possible clinicopathological significance. Methods Twenty-three patients with DN diagnosed by renal biopsy and 10 patients with renal cell carcinoma undergone nephrectomy were allocated into DN group and control group, respectively. The renal expression of NF-κB p50, NF-κB p65, NF-κB p65 mRNA, MCP-1, OPN, α-SMA, and FN was detected by immunohistochemical or in situ hybridization assay. Serum creatinine, urinary N-acetylglucosaminedase (NAG), urinary albumin and 24-hour urinary protein were detected. The correlation between these inflmmnatory markers and clinicopathological data were analyzed. Results (1)Among all the 23 DN patients, granular degeneration of the renal tubular epithelium, focal tubular atrophy, infiltration of inflammatory cells and interstitial fibrosis were apparent, and none of these were found in control group. (2) Immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization assay showed that, compared with control group, expression of these factors increased significantly in renal tubular cells or interstitium in DN patients, and expression of α-SMA or FN was not found in tubular epithelial cells. (3)Statistics assay showed the tubular NF-κB p65 protein expression was correlated with all of the following factors: NF-κB p50 protein (r=0.792) and NF-κB p65 mRNA (r=0.763), tubular MCP-1 (r=0.825) and OPN (r=0.869) expression, interstitial α-SMA (r=0.327) and FN (r=0.432) expression, proteinuria(r=0.710), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (r=-0.728), and urinary NAG (r= 0.930), P<0.01 respectively. Conclusion Tubular inflammation may play a role in the pathogenesis and progression of DN.

Objective To investigate the clinical and laboratory features of severe cases of hand,foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province. Methods Clinical data of 107 children with HFMD, including 97 severe and 10 critical cases treated in Children' s Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical College during January and May 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. One hundred and fifty children with mild HFMD were also selected as the controls. Clinical features and laboratory results were compared between the two groups. Results Fever, rash and infection in central nervous system were observed in all patients with severe HFMD, and symptoms on respiratory, digestive and cardiovascular systems were more serious than those of mild HFMD cases. White blood cell counts (WBC) were higher in severe group than those in controls (t = 12.72, P ＜0.01). Hyperglycemia (9. 2 mmol/L) and abnormal troponin (0. 3 -9. 0 ng/mL) were presented in all the critical patients. Cerebrospinal fluid WBC counts were raised in 97 severe HFMD patients (98.5 × 106/L for average) with predominance of lymphocytes. Among 107 severe patients, EV71 was positive in 70, including all 10 critical cases. Conclusion Involvement of nervous,respiratory and digestive symptoms is common in severe cases of HFMD, and EV71 is the predominant pathogen.

Objective To investigate Smac/DIABLO and cytochrome c(cyt-c)mRNA levels in liver tissue of rats with acute hepatic failure treated by microencapsulated hepatocyte.Methods Acute hepatic failure were induced by intraperitoneal injection of D-galactosamine in rats.and the rats were treated with microencapsulated hepatocytes,free hepatocytes and physical saline(contr01),respectively.Smac/DIABLO and cyt-c mRNA in liver tissue was detected by RT-PCR and the mRNA expression levels among three groups were compared.Results Smac/DIABLO and cyt-c mRNA levels in liver tissues of rats with acute hepatic failure were higher than those of normal rata(F=4.345,14.821,47.565,42.178 and 62.961,P<0.05).The peak values of Smac/DIABLO and cyt-C mRNA expressions in free hepatocytes and control groups were at 48 h.while that in microencapsulated hepatoeytes group was at 24 h.Conclusion Smac/DIABLO and cyt-c mRNA expression is an indicator of apoptosis of hepatocytes.