PNAS-4 is a novel pro-apoptosis gene identified latetly. In recent years, there has been a large number of research reports on the basic studies about PNAS-4 in cancer gene therapy and gene therapy of PNAS-4 alone or combined with chemotherapy or radiotherapy manifested a good application prospect, but its molecular mechanisms to promote apoptosis is not clear yet. In this paper, recent research about PNAS-4 in cancer gene therapy is briefly reviewed, and recent hypotheses on its molecular mechanisms to promote apoptosis are especially elucidated. Based on its newly identified characteristics of structural domain, we made a point that PNAS-4 might regulate functions of some target protein related to apoptosis by deSumoylation as a new deSumoylating isopeptidase, and consequently promote apoptosis.
Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; genetics ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; therapy ; Sumoylation

Artemisinin is a sesquiterpene lactone compounds,their derivatives include mainly dihydroartemisinin,artesunate,artemether and Artemisia ether. These drugs are now mainly used for clinical treatment of malaria. With the pharmacological action of artemisinin and its derivatives have been further studied,except antimalarial effects,researchers have found their anti-inflammatory,anti-sepsis,antitumor,radiosensitization,antimicrobial sensitivity,anti-fibrosis effects in recent years. Here,we collect and review the most newly pharmacological effects of artemisinin and its derivatives all over the world in past years.

Humans ; POEMS Syndrome ; diagnosis ; therapy

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics, laboratory results, treatment and prognosis of adult onset Still's disease (AOSD). Methods The clinical and laboratory data of 107 AOSD patients were retrospectively analyzed. SPSS 22.0 was used for statistical analysis. Categorical data were described as frequency and percentage, and numerical data were described using x±s deviation. Chi-square test was used to compare categorical data between groups and analysis of variance test was used to compare numerical data between groups. K-W test was used to compare skewed distributed data between groups and J-T test was compared in pairwise comparison. Logistic regression was applied to examine prognostic factors. Results The average age of 107 patients (12 male and 95 female) was(39±16) years and the average disease course was (1.4±2.7) years. The patients were classified into 3 types based on their disease course: monocyclic (38 cases, 35.5%), polycyclic (29 cases, 27.1%) and chronic arthritis (40 cases, 37.4%). The clinical characteristics were high fever (107 cases , 100%), rash (97 cases, 90.7%) and arthralgia/arthritis (86 cases, 80.4%). The most common involved joints were knee (24 cases, 23.3%), wrist (19 cases, 18.4%) and proximal interphalangeal joints (14, 13.7%). The laboratory results were elevated including white blood cells count (88/105, 83.8%) and elevated serum ferritin (107, 100%). Seventy-three out of 84 patients (86.9%) had negative rheumatic factor and 9 out of 91 (9.9%) had positive ANA, which were low titre in general. Eleven patients (10.3%) had joint erosions suggested by X-ray at diagnosis. Intergroup analysis revealed that patients with polycyclic type were less likely to have abnormal liver function tests at disease onset (χ2=9, P<0.05). Twenty-five patients (23.8%) in total had complications, which were mainly pulmonary interstitial fibrosis (9 cases ) and hemophagocytic syndrome (7 cases). Male patients (n=6, χ2=5.93, P=0.015) were more likely to have complications. One hundred and two (95.3%) patients were treated with glucocorticoid and among them, 86 (84.3%) were combined with immunosuppressive agents. After 4 weeks of treatment, 89 patients (89.2%) achieved complete remission. The number of patients with glucocorticoid dependence or treatment failure was less in monocyclic group, although the differences were not significant. The analysis of prognostic factors founded that patients with Tmax>39.5 ℃ (P=0.030) were mostly fell into the monocyclic group. Compared with monocyclic type, patients with polycyclic or chronic arthritis type were less likely to have thrombocytosis (P=0.019, P=0.004). However, when compared with chronic arthritis type, patients with monocyclic or poly - cyclic type were less likely to have arthralgia/arthritis (P=0.030, P=0.000), especially the involvement of large joints (P<0.05). Conclusion AOSD mainly presents as high fever, rash, arthralgia and elevated inflammatory markers. Joint erosion may occur during the course of disease. The treatment of glucocorticoid and immunosup - pressive agent combinations is effective and most patients could achieve remission during 4 weeks of treatment. Patients with thrombocytosis at disease onset might be monocyclic type, while patients with arthritis, especially involvement of large joints at disease onset might be chronic arthritis type.

Animals ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen ; biosynthesis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; prevention & control ; Serum ; Transforming Growth Factors ; biosynthesis

Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is a rare and low-grade malignant tumor of vascular origin.Clinical symptoms and laboratory findings are unspecific.The definitive diagnosis can only be made by histopathalogi-cal investigation The primary treatments of choice are radical hepatic resection or liver transplantation. The role of differ-ent adjuvant therapies for patients with hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma remains to be determined.

Objective:To study the biomechanical characters of human mandible under compression load and to deduce the constitutive equation.Methods: Specimens taken from five mandible of fresh human cadavers were examined on INSTRON by a group of tensile tests at different strain rates (0.000　5,0.005,0.05 and 0.5 s-1).Bone mineral density of every individual mandible was measured.The effects of strain rate(**),bone mineral density (ρ) on Young'Modulus (E),strength(σu)and ultimate strain(εu) were studied and the constitutive equations were deduced using the following model:Y=aρb**c.Results:(1)σu=216.27ρ1.23**0.055（P<0.01），(2)E(Pa)=5　604.024**0.083（P<0.01）,(3)εu =0.045**-0.045（P<0.01）,(4)σu=1　798.87ρ-1.17**0.083ε0.82（P<0.01).Conclusions:Strain rate and bone mineral density are important factors for the biomechanical characters of human mandible under compression load.Based on the constitutive equations,the stress level,the possibility and degree of mandible injury may be estimated.

Objective To explore the clinical significance and changes of tumor necrosis factor-?(TNF-?)and interleukin-6(IL-6)level in children with acute viral myocarditis(AVM).Methods TNF-? and IL-6 level in serum from 53 AVM children and 20 healthy children were measured by radio-immunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The relation between the levels of TNF-? and IL-6 in serum with the occurrence and development in acute viral myocarditis was analyzed.Results Thirty-two were males and 21 females in the 53 AVM children.The ages ranged from 3-11 years old.There were 12 males and 8 females in control group.The serum level of TNF-? and IL-6 were(526.7?32.9),(3.23?0.53)mg/L in AVM group and(383.1?27.5),(1.63?0.22)mg/L in control group.There were significant difference between the 2 groups(Pa

Objective To establish the quality control standard for Shuxiong soft capsule. Method Radix et Rhizoma Notoginseng, Rhizoma Chuanxiong were identified by TLC, and the content of Ginsenoside Rg1 were detdrmined by HPLC. Result The TLC sports developed was fairly clear. The HPLC method showed good repeatability, and the average recovery of quercitrin was 97.21%, RSD=0.65%. Conclusion The method is simple, accurate and can effectively control the quality of Shuxiong soft capsule.

Objective To study the effect of 60 Co radiotherapy on the gene expession of fibronectin (FN) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in the cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Methods Rat VSMCs were cultured in DMEM containing 10% FBS, and were radiated by 60 Co at the doses of 0,7,14 and 28Gy, respectively. mRNA level of FN and MMP-2 was measured by RT-PCR. Results The expression level of MMP-2 mRNA decreased from 82.52?6.50 to 64.25?3.81 and 42.17?3.16 in VSMCs with 14,25Gy radiation, respectively(P